NEWARK-ARCADIA EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES
NAVA began operations as a community based volunteer agency on July 1, 1977 to provide the Newark/Arcadia area with better levels of service and faster response times than what was offered prior to that time. NAVA was created through the efforts of three nurses from the Newark Wayne Community Hospital (NWCH) who felt that the community needed access to the higher levels of pre-hospital emergency care that had been developed during the War in Vietnam. These new treatment modalities increased survival rates so much for injured soldiers, that several progressive cities across the nation were beginning to develop their own programs based upon the military model. NWCH administrator Sophie Ziegler along with several staff physicians quickly embraced the idea and joined forces to offer their support. NWCH provided the space for organizational meetings and funded Basic EMT training for all prospective volunteers. They also helped out by offering legal support as well as with other expenses and services to help get NAVA started.
Within a year, the original group and hospital staff members began to look at providing Advanced Life Support (ALS) coverage and together put together a curriculum for ALS training which had not yet been developed by New York State. This was no easy task because outside of New York City, there were no ALS programs anywhere within NY State. Once again, the hospital staff stepped in and developed a pilot ALS program and offered funding and whatever else was needed. Over a year later, in the summer of 1979, NAVA began providing this service which it continues to this day. Our call volume has increased over the years from approximately 800 in 1977 to the present level of nearly 2900 calls per year. NAVA has changed a lot since its first days and continues to progress by keeping pace with the latest in technology and emergency care procedures.
In late 2011, NAVA made some significant changes to its organizational structure to better serve the community and their own members and employees. This included a reorganization of the entire management structure including administration, training and operations. The key element to this restructuring was the addition of a paid administrator to oversee the day to day operations of the agency.
Within a year, the original group and hospital staff members began to look at providing Advanced Life Support (ALS) coverage and together put together a curriculum for ALS training which had not yet been developed by New York State. This was no easy task because outside of New York City, there were no ALS programs anywhere within NY State. Once again, the hospital staff stepped in and developed a pilot ALS program and offered funding and whatever else was needed. Over a year later, in the summer of 1979, NAVA began providing this service which it continues to this day. Our call volume has increased over the years from approximately 800 in 1977 to the present level of nearly 2900 calls per year. NAVA has changed a lot since its first days and continues to progress by keeping pace with the latest in technology and emergency care procedures.
In late 2011, NAVA made some significant changes to its organizational structure to better serve the community and their own members and employees. This included a reorganization of the entire management structure including administration, training and operations. The key element to this restructuring was the addition of a paid administrator to oversee the day to day operations of the agency.