Our Services
Around-the-Clock Emergency Care
Sand Lake Ambulance (SLA) has been a cornerstone of emergency pre-hospital care in our community, operating 24/7, 365 days a year to provide Advanced Life Support (ALS) and Basic Life Support (BLS) services. Our highly trained paramedics and EMTs—both paid staff and dedicated volunteers—ensure rapid, expert medical response whenever it’s needed.
Advanced Life Support (ALS)
Our paramedics bring hospital-level care directly to the scene, equipped to handle critical medical emergencies. With advanced airway management, medication administration, cardiac monitoring, and life-saving interventions, ALS services are essential for severe trauma, strokes, heart attacks, and respiratory distress.
Basic Life Support (BLS)
Our EMTs provide essential medical care, including CPR, wound treatment, oxygen therapy, and patient transport. BLS services ensure swift, professional care for a wide range of medical emergencies.
Beyond Emergency Response: Community Programs
Our commitment to public health goes beyond emergency calls. SLA is deeply involved in community education and outreach, empowering individuals with life-saving skills and proactive health services.
- CPR Training – We offer CPR certification courses to high school students, local businesses, and government employees, ensuring more community members are prepared to respond in a crisis.
- Free Blood Pressure Screenings – SLA provides free blood pressure checks at town events, helping residents stay on top of their health.
- Educational Station Tours – We welcome schools and community groups to visit our station and learn about emergency services firsthand.
- On-Site Event Coverage – Our team provides immediate medical support at local gatherings, ensuring community events remain safe for everyone.
At SLA, we’re not just responding to emergencies—we’re working to build a healthier, safer community every day.
Billing Policy
Why We Bill
At Sand Lake Ambulance (SLA), we bring the emergency room to your bedside or the scene of an accident with state-of-the-art equipment and highly trained personnel in a prompt manner, which come at a cost.
To minimize the financial burden on taxpayers, we bill for services rendered—just like any doctor's office or hospital. Since most individuals pay for health insurance, it is only fair to our taxpayers that we seek reimbursement from insurers to help offset the costs of emergency medical care. Billing for services covers approximately 50% of our operating budget, allowing us to maintain high-quality emergency response without relying solely on taxpayer funding.
SLA’s Billing Policy
- No Pre-Screening for Financial Status – SLA provides emergency medical care and transports patients regardless of their ability to pay.
- Non-Profit Organization – As a 501(c)(3) non-profit, our service fees align with industry standards.
- Insurance Coverage – Most insurance plans, including Medicare, cover ambulance transport. Under Medicare guidelines, we are required to make a reasonable attempt to collect unpaid fees to ensure fair and consistent billing practices.
- Self-Pay Patients – We understand that medical expenses can be overwhelming. SLA does not garnish wages or place property liens to collect payments. We work with patients to establish manageable payment solutions.
SLA has a long-standing commitment to ensuring access to emergency care. In 2024 and 2024 alone, we absorbed over $100,000 in uncompensated care, reinforcing our mission to serve the community.
Billing Questions
For any billing inquiries, please contact our billing department at (518) 674-2221 ext. 1.
Protected Patient Information
We prioritize patient privacy and handle all medical information in accordance with HIPAA regulations.
To request medical records, please complete the Authorization for Release of Health Information (OCA Form 960) and send it via:
📬 Mail: PO Box 222, West Sand Lake, NY 12196
📠Fax: (518) 674-2221
Please allow 7-14 days for us to process your request. For details on how we protect patient data, refer to our Notice of Privacy Practices (NPP) document.