Upon learning of the announcement that MONOC would no longer be providing Advanced Life Support Services to Ocean County residents, the Ocean County Sheriff’s Office of Emergency Management has reached out to the new providers in order to work toward a smooth transition.
“My office received a number of calls from concerned residents who heard about the MONOC MICU (Mobile Intensive Care Unit) program closing in April,” said Ocean County Sheriff Michael G. Mastronardy. “Upon hearing the program will close, we immediately reached out to the providers that are assuming the operations.
“We have scheduled meetings with these hospitals to review concerns such as dispatch protocol, response coverage and other areas,” Mastronardy said. “The Sheriff’s Office is committed to making this a smooth transition of advanced life support services in order to protect our residents.”
On April 1, 2020, the MONOC MICU (Mobile Intensive Care Unit) program will close, and Hackensack Meridian Health and RWJBarnabas Health will assume full operational and administrative responsibility of the program according to a letter from Jeff Behm, president and CEO of the Monmouth Ocean Hospital Service Corp.
In New Jersey, there are two kinds of emergency medical service: basic life support services, usually run by volunteer rescue squads, fire or police departments; and advance life support services, like MONOC, staffed by paramedics who must complete a two-year training program, according to the Asbury Park Press.
“With such a large county and with the largest senior population in the state, it’s important concerns are addressed before the new providers take over the service,” Mastronardy said. “My office and our Emergency Management staff look forward to a productive dialogue with the new providers in order to assure our residents they will be taken care of during medical emergencies.”
Ocean County Freeholder John P. Kelly, Director of Law and Public Safety, noted that Ocean County’s emergency 911 system usually is the first call received during a medical emergency.
“It’s important that any new protocols are closely reviewed and everyone works together for the benefit of our residents and visitors,” he said.