Ambulance Department
| Hours of Operation: |
24-hour Service |
| Business Office Hours: |
Monday - Friday |
| Business Telephone No.: |
517 647-2935 |
| Emergency Telephone No.: |
911 |
| Location: |
Emergency Services
Building |
| Director: |
David R. Brown |
| Affiliation: |
Portland Fire Department |
The Portland Ambulance Department is a division of the Portland Fire Department and operates out of the Emergency Services Building at 773 E. Grand River Avenue. The service provides 24 hour Advanced Life Support service to the citizens of Portland, as well as the townships of Portland, Danby, Lyons, Westphalia, and parts of Eagle, Sebewa and Orange townships. Service is also provided to the Village of Westphalia and the Village of Pewamo.
The Ambulance Service is staffed by 4 full-time Paramedics, and a volunteer roster of 13 members. Full time medics work 24-hour shifts, which are spent at the station. Volunteers cover from 5:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. weeknights and split the 24 hour shifts on weekends. Volunteers are not required to remain at the station during their shift and many respond from their homes. The Ambulance Department also calls upon the resources of the Portland Fire Department for manpower assistance when the situation arises. The Fire Department also provides the Jaws of Life and specialty rescue equipment for motor vehicle accidents.
The Ambulance Department also offers an
Emergency Care Plan to the citizens in the coverage area. At a cost of $60.00 per coverage year (July 1-June 30), subscribers are not billed for their ambulance runs. Enrollment is accepted in May and June prior to the coverage year. In the event a subscriber uses the Ambulance Dept. for a medical emergency, the Ambulance Department bills the insurance company for the subscriber and the subscriber does not receive a bill. The Ambulance Department accepts what the insurance companies pay as payment in full and the subscriber is not responsible for any remaining balance. For more information, please contact Dave Brown or Kim Patrick-Chapman at (517) 647-2935 during normal business hours Monday - Friday 8:00 am - 4:00 pm
Billing for ambulance runs is performed by the Billing Department for all City residents. If you have a question regarding your ambulance bill, or need assistance with your insurance company, you may reach the Billing Dept. at (517) 647-2935 Monday-Friday from 8:00 am - 4:00 pm. Voice mail is available if personnel are not available to answer your call.
If you have an emergency requiring an ambulance, please call 9-1-1. If you chose to drive to the station after business hours to have the paramedic evaluate your condition, there is a 9-1-1 phone at the front entrance of the Emergency Services Building. Simply pick up the receiver and the phone will automatically dial Ionia County Central Dispatch for you. Please, do not hang up the telephone without talking to the dispatcher. Dispatch will notify the medic on duty that you are out front and need assistance. Please follow the dispatcher's instructions until the medic arrives to assist you.
