To enhance emergency medical care in the community, Troy City Council approved a renewal partnership between the Troy Fire Department and Upper Valley Medical Center (UVMC) at its February 18 meeting. Under this five-year agreement, Troy Fire will once again serve as the primary emergency medical response provider for the UVMC campus, located between Troy and Piqua on County Road 25-A.
Prior to 2017, Troy Fire responded to UVMC as part of the City’s contract with Concord Township. Since 2017, UVMC has contracted with private ambulance services to provide inter-campus patient transport and 911 emergency medical response, with Troy Fire Department stepping in as a backup. Now, the department will take the lead, ensuring faster, more efficient care when every second counts.
Fire Chief Matt Simmons emphasized the impact of this partnership, highlighting its benefits for Troy residents. "In practice, the new agreement means that Troy Fire will respond to medical emergencies on the UVMC campus that come through Miami County 911 Dispatch," he said. "That includes calls to Vancrest-Upper Valley, the dialysis center, the mental health center, Hospice of Miami County, or doctors' offices for emergencies, such as sudden-onset chest pain or stroke, where time is of the essence." Simmons said that, after examining historical data, he expects the volume of calls to be manageable using existing personnel.
City Council also accepted the generous donation of $175,000 from the UVMC Community Benefits Fund. These funds will go toward purchasing an additional ambulance, fully equipped with Advanced Life Support (ALS) capabilities similar to Troy's other medical units. The new unit will handle lower-priority medical calls, both within Troy and at the UVMC campus, enhancing overall response efficiency.
UVMC president Kevin Harlan stated, “This is a great example of two organizations working together which will not only benefit the residents of Troy but will strengthen both of our organizations.”
Mayor Robin Oda echoed Mr. Harlan’s sentiment: “This highlights the importance of community relationships and opportunities that will provide a tremendous service. We are fortunate to have amazing healthcare solutions locally, and we look forward to partnering with Premier/UVMC to bring about this solution.”
With this new agreement, Troy Fire and UVMC are taking a step toward ensuring faster, more effective emergency care for residents, reinforcing their commitment to community well-being.
For more information on the Troy Fire Department, visit www.troyohio.gov/fire or call 937.335.5678.