Featured in the January 2023 Truro Talks Newsletter 

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The Town of Truro is accelerating its transition plan for absorbing emergency medical service transports currently provided by the Lower Cape Ambulance Association (LCAA). LCAA is a regional ambulance service that employs EMTs and paramedics to transport patients to Cape Cod Hospital from Truro and Provincetown. EMTs are certified to provide basic life support (BLS) and paramedics are certified to provide advanced life support (ALS). 

In early January, the town received word from LCAA that it will cease operations on July 1, 2023, after 86 years as the uncertainty of emergency medical service provision on the Outer Cape made the projection of proper staffing levels difficult for LCAA and impacted the organization’s ability to commit to providing the level of service required. 

While the timing of the decision to cease operations came earlier than the Town of Truro expected, the decision itself has been one that the town has prepared for in recent years. A general override to add (4) full-time paramedics was included on the 2020 Annual Town Meeting Warrant. It was deferred at that time, but the explanation related to the article includes a statement that “In anticipation of changes to the provision of EMS services in Truro, the Board recommends adding four (4) permanent firefighter/paramedics in Fiscal Year 2021. This four additional personnel will allow the department to operate three-person shifts, which will help the staffing levels meet community demand if contracted EMS service providers are no longer able to operate.” 

A similar article and related ballot question were presented to voters at the 2022 Annual Town Meeting and were approved. The $355,765 override increased staffing levels from nine full-time employees to thirteen, with the four positions approved in the override specifically described as “firefighter/paramedics.” This article again described the importance of increasing staffing levels to meet demand if contracted EMS service providers are no longer able to operate.... 

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