MedStar Will Start Responding To Long Branch's First Aid, EMS Calls

LONG BRANCH, NJ — On Tuesday, the city of Long Branch announced that the Monmouth County Sheriff will start operating its EMS and first aid services.

MedStar is the EMS/ambulance service run by the Monmouth County Sheriff. It will start responding to all Long Branch 911 calls starting May 1.

Until now, Long Branch's First Aid Squad responded to 911 calls. The squad had both paid and volunteer EMTs. But there have been staffing shortages, plus rising insurance costs.

The Long Branch First Aid Squad no longer has enough members to provide EMS services to the city, said Mayor John Pallone.

The squad asked the city to look at alternatives and MEDSTAR was the logical choice, he said.

"Beginning May 1 MEDSTAR will now provide primary city-wide EMS to Long Branch," Pallone said Tuesday. "But they will continue to be supplemented by volunteer services from the Elberon First Aid Squad as well as Jersey Shore Hatzalah EMS (which is based in Long Branch)."

Pallone said having the county Sheriff run the service will not bring an additional cost to Long Branch taxpayers.

"The city's contract with the County Sheriff's program will guarantee robust continuation of first aid services at no cost to the taxpayer," said Pallone. "MedStar will provide brand-new ambulances located in Long Branch. Patients treated and transported by MedStar units will not receive a bill for service. Monmouth County works directly with residents’ insurance companies for reimbursement of costs. No Long Branch resident with or without medical coverage will be responsible for any costs incurred."

MedStar has only been in operation for two years in Monmouth County, having been launched in February 2024.

These 10 towns are the primary towns MedStar services in Monmouth County: Wall, Sea Girt, Manasquan, Neptune City, Ocean, Tinton Falls, Matawan, Aberdeen, and Holmdel. MedStar is a back-up EMS in these five towns: Brielle, Spring Lake, Spring Lake Heights, Avon and Hazlet.

The average response times for MedStar responding to a 911 call is under six minutes.

“Ensuring the health and safety of residents remains our top priority, and we are proud to expand the Monmouth County Sheriff’s EMS operation – MedStar into the city of Long Branch,” said Monmouth County Sheriff Shaun Golden. “MedStar has proven to be a highly effective, professional and compassionate service, with outstanding response times and lifesaving care delivered by our dedicated EMTs. This expansion will ensure that Long Branch residents receive the highest level of medical care."