Founded in 1981, Northeastern Berks Advanced Life Support succumbs to financial woes
By Erin Negley, Reading Eagle, Pa.
Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Business News
Reading Eagle (Pennsylvania)
Copyright 2006 Reading Eagle
When Lillian Wagner started paramedic training 30 years ago, people in need of emergency attention often didn’t receive that care until the ambulance arrived at a hospital.
Patients got standard first aid if they were lucky, said Dr. Everitt F. Binns, executive director of the Eastern Pennsylvania Regional EMS.
Volunteers such as Wagner were the first to bring paramedic services to Berks County ambulance squads when they created the Northeastern Berks Advanced Life Support in 1981.
The squad served the communities of Fleetwood, Oley and Blandon.
Other paramedic units -- or advanced life-support squads -- were formed throughout Berks, but many have since merged with the ambulance services.
Northeastern Berks, the county’s first paramedic squad, ceased its operations at midnight Saturday. The squad’s 14 paid paramedics typically responded to up to seven calls in a 12-hour shift.
“The main reason is money,” Wagner said. “We’ve run out of ways to raise money.”
The Fleetwood Ambulance Squad took over Northeastern Berks’ services Sunday morning.
When the Northeastern Berks squad started, volunteers outfitted a sport utility vehicle with a defibrillator, oxygen and other medical equipment.
“If you stop breathing, wouldn’t you like to have a paramedic take care of you before you get to the hospital?” Binns said. “It’s crucially important.”
The nine original volunteers provided 24-hour coverage out of the space provided by the Fleetwood Fire Company.
Wagner, now 69, worked a few morning shifts in the beginning and worked 48-hour weekend shifts with her husband, James.
“Once you get started, you know that you’re helping people, it’s hard to stop,” said Wagner, a squad supervisor.
“It doesn’t bother me that much,” she said of the squad’s demise. “I know that the people will get their needs taken care of by the MICU (Fleetwood Ambulance Squad’s mobile intensive care unit).”