To the Editor:

The Wilton community is fortunate to have as one of its most valuable assets the Wilton Volunteer Ambulance Corps (WVAC), a private not-for-profit 501 (c)(3) corporation. All of WVAC’s 66 volunteers are dedicated to providing emergency medical care and are on duty seven days a week at the WVAC headquarters, responding to calls for medical assistance in Wilton.

On Aug. 1, 2024, WVAC purchased the property at 232 Danbury Rd., the first step in an effort to build a new facility that meets our needs today and for years to come. WVAC thoroughly explored alternative locations to accommodate our needs, as the topography of the current location creates a dangerous and unsafe access for volunteers. When 232 Danbury Rd. came up for sale, we quickly realized that it provided the ideal solution and was simply an opportunity we couldn’t pass up. 

Since our inception in 1976, emergency calls to WVAC have steadily increased.

Through June, the 2024 call volume is running approximately 5% higher versus 2023. Due to the increase in assisted living/nursing facilities and medical offices and the expected addition of many apartments in Wilton, WVAC will undoubtedly continue to see an increase in calls.

WVAC has occupied the same original space for over 40 years. While our call volume has soared and [the number of] volunteers [has] increased from six in the 1970s to over 60 today, our facilities have not kept pace. The building (owned by the Town) is a small, old single-family home with inadequate meeting and sleeping areas for our volunteers. It no longer fits the modern and expanding needs of WVAC. Ambulances and paramedic cars are stored in an open-air Quonset hut with the backup ambulance stored in the firehouse. Some medical supplies need to be stored at Comstock Community Center due to lack of space. 

Funding for WVAC

The Town of Wilton provides WVAC with approximately $100,000 per year, which primarily covers insurance and some costs for fuel, medical supplies and equipment maintenance. The majority of WVAC’s operations are funded through patient billing (85%) and donations (10%). The cost of an ambulance transport is set annually by the State of Connecticut. However, due to the significant number of assisted living/skilled nursing facilities in Wilton, almost 70% of WVAC calls are reimbursed by Medicare/Medicaid. Medicare only pays 50% of the state-issued rate and Medicaid only pays about 33% of the state-issue rate.

Despite the disadvantage of having a high percentage of calls paid for by [below market/cost] Medicare/Medicaid reimbursement, we have effectively managed expenses so that we were in a position to purchase the property at 232 Danbury Rd. We are looking forward to the next step in our quest to bring our facilities into the 21st century.

WVAC Officers
John Miscioscia, President
Libby Nagle, Vice President
Betsy Wallon, Treasurer
Brian McDermott, Secretary