Exeter Hospital ALS Service Set to End, Sparking Concerns Across Seacoast Communities

Photo bySandown Fire and Rescue

EXETER, NH - The announcement that Exeter Hospital will discontinue its Advanced Life Support (ALS) paramedic intercept service on September 20, 2024, has raised widespread concern across the Seacoast region. The service, which has been operational for 32 years, has been a critical resource for many smaller communities that lack their own paramedic teams.

The Exeter Fire Department addressed the issue in a Facebook post, acknowledging the importance of the ALS service to surrounding communities but assuring residents that Exeter is equipped to handle emergencies with its own paramedic staff. "We provide 24/7 coverage, which includes having at least one paramedic on duty at all times," the post stated, highlighting that Exeter ALS has been a limited resource for their department but a vital one for smaller towns.

Photo byScreenshot Exeter Fire Department Facebook

In contrast, departments like Hampton Falls have been heavily reliant on the Exeter Hospital ALS service. Chief Jay M. Lord of the Hampton Falls Fire Department expressed the severity of the situation in a Facebook post, calling the decision "less than stellar news." Chief Lord assured residents that the level of care provided by the Hampton Falls Fire Department will not change and that alternative options are being explored. He invited the community to attend a Selectmen meeting on September 18 for further updates.

Photo byScreenshot Hampton Falls Fire Dept Facebook Post

Tim Redding, a former employee of Exeter Hospital, shared his personal insight into the situation via a public Facebook post, claiming that the decision to end ALS services comes after the hospital’s acquisition by Beth Israel Lahey Health, which he believes is disengaging from emergency medical services (EMS). Redding also noted that medics were only given 11 days' notice about the shutdown, leaving many without jobs. He added that the closure presents a significant opportunity for someone to establish a new ALS intercept system in the area.

Photo byTim Redding Facebook Post

Other fire departments in the region, such as Kingston Fire Department, expressed deep concern about the loss of the service. In a statement posted on their Facebook page, the department described the termination of Exeter ALS as “devastating.” Kingston has relied on Exeter ALS for decades, particularly for complex medical cases requiring a higher level of care than what their Advanced EMTs can provide. In response, the department launched a "Save Exeter ALS Campaign," inviting the community to write letters to Exeter Hospital in support of the service’s continuation. The department is collecting letters until September 12.

Photo byScreenshot Kingston Fire Department Facebook Post

Hampton Firefighters and Fire Officers also responded to the news, reassuring their community that the discontinuation of Exeter ALS will not impact Hampton residents. The town has in-house paramedics and full-time staffing, making it less dependent on external services. However, the department acknowledged the potential impact on neighboring towns without similar resources.

Photo byScreenshot from Hampton Firefighters & Officers Facebook Post

The sudden decision to end the ALS service has left many Seacoast communities scrambling for solutions. Several fire departments have indicated they are actively exploring alternative measures to ensure their residents continue to receive high-level emergency care.

Beth Israel Lahey Health, the new parent organization of Exeter Hospital, has yet to issue an official statement. However, Sonya Vartabedian, Media Relations Manager for Beth Israel Lahey Health, has confirmed that a statement is forthcoming, and this article will be updated when it becomes available.

Update: Sonya Vartabedian of BILH responded with this;
Exeter Hospital statement:

"Like many health care organizations in our region and across the country, Exeter Hospital continues to face dramatically rising costs, changing patient care trends and a challenging reimbursement environment. While we have made progress in continuing to rebuild our financial health in the post-pandemic environment, we are evaluating all aspects of our operations, including aligning our staff with patient care priorities and focusing our resources on health care programs and services that Exeter Hospital is uniquely qualified to provide. As part of this effort, we have made the difficult decision to discontinue the Paramedic Intercept Program. These steps will help ensure we have a strong financial foundation, and that Exeter is well-positioned to continue to deliver on our health care mission." - Sonya Vartabedian, Exeter Hospital Spokesperson

Some background information on the EMS service;
* The Paramedic Intercept Program provides on-site advanced life support, which is a high level of pre-hospital care. The Intercept Program does not transport individuals to hospitals for further treatment. That service is currently provided by local EMS, which will continue.

* The Intercept Program will remain open through September 20.

* Exeter Hospital's Intercept Program is a program Exeter has run voluntarily.

The Professional Firefighters of New Hampshire released this statement

The Professional Fire Fighters of New Hampshire is disheartened by reports of the dissolution of Exeter

ALS effective September 20, 2024.

Exeter ALS has provided exceptional advanced life support for over 30 years and their absence will undoubtedly impact New Hampshire communities. Early access to vital emergency services, critical interventions, and definitive care is an essential service that everyone should be entitled to. This decision, which came without any advanced notice, will leave many communities without the critical services they deserve.

We are proud of our members in Exeter, Seabrook, Hampton, North Hampton and beyond, for their determination in ensuring that our cities and towns remain protected. The increased demand for emergency medical services coupled with the sudden loss of this trusted provider will undoubtedly strain existing departments. Despite this, our members remain committed to providing paramedic level prehospital care as they have for many years to the residents they serve, proudly and professionally.

We implore elected officials in the affected area to take swift and decisive action to analyze their emergency response capabilities, to ensure that fire departments are equipped with adequate round-the-clock staffing and the resources necessary to absorb the impact to their community.

This was Exeter Hospital's statement:

"Like many health care organizations in our region and across the country, Exeter Hospital continues to face dramatically rising costs, changing patient care trends and a challenging reimbursement environment. While we have made progress in continuing to rebuild our financial health in the post-pandemic environment, we are evaluating all aspects of our operations, including aligning our staff with patient care priorities and focusing our resources on health care programs and services that Exeter Hospital is uniquely qualified to provide. As part of this effort, we have made the difficult decision to discontinue the Paramedic Intercept Program. These steps will help ensure we have a strong financial foundation, and that Exeter is well-positioned to continue to deliver on our health care mission." - Sonya Vartabedian, Exeter Hospital Spokesperson

The information for this article was sourced from social media posts by the Exeter, Hampton Falls, Kingston, and Hampton Firefighters & Fire Officers Local, as well as Tim Redding’s public Facebook post.