By Eric Mark
Wyoming County Press Examiner
WYOMING COUNTY, Pa. — An EMS feasibility study conducted by the state Department of Community and Economic Development recommends that emergency medical services agencies in Wyoming County work together and communicate clearly the severity of the problems that EMS agencies face.
The study, requested by the Wyoming County Commissioners with the support of several county municipalities, reviewed procedures utilized by five of the six EMS agencies that service Wyoming County: Meshoppen, FWM, Tunkhannock, Dalton and Noxen.
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Lake Winola Ambulance chose not to participate in the study, according to the final report presented to local officials and emergency responders at meetings on Tuesday, Dec. 16.
Two other EMS agencies, Dalton and Factoryville, ceased operations in the past year, the report notes. Officials of those ambulance companies cited financial problems and lack of staffing.
The report lists staffing as “the single biggest problem in EMS.” It notes that the average starting salary for an Emergency Medical Technician in Pennsylvania is $32,489, which requires many EMTs to work two jobs to earn a living wage. Some left the EMS field to take jobs elsewhere that offer better pay and working conditions, the report states.
The report lists several recommendations to improve EMS operations in the county.
First, EMS leadership, both operational and administrative, should “come together to strengthen teamwork and trust.” Cooperation among EMS agencies is essential, the report states.
Also, funding sources must be established to support EMS services, which can no longer be sustained by billing and subscriptions. One example is the 0.5-mill dedicated EMS tax that municipalities may levy.
A key recommendation is the formation of an EMS authority that would address both operational and fiscal concerns. The authority should include all 23 municipalities in the county. It could either be administrative-only or it could have limited involvement in field operations.
The authority could become the Wyoming County EMS Service and own all EMS vehicles in the county, while the authority manager could be the EMS Chief of Operations, the report states.
The report recommends the formation of a committee that consists of EMS personnel, county and municipal officials and the public to create a long-term EMS plan for the county. The plan should set goals at intervals from six months to five years and should be fluid and open to change.
To address lengthy response times inherent to a rural county, municipal leaders should work with local fire departments to establish state-certified Quick Response Services, which could provide lifesaving aid until EMS arrives.
Also, officials should continue and expand public awareness programs to inform residents about the EMS crisis, through print media and social media, the report states.
Wyoming County Commissioner Tom Henry said he was impressed with the presentation from DCED officials at the Tuesday afternoon meeting.
Henry said he especially liked the idea of EMS agencies working together to share costs of supplies and equipment. He said that when he owned a NAPA auto parts store, owners of stores throughout the chain would work together to share the cost of supplies, to their mutual benefit.
Tunkhannock Mayor Stacy Huber said he was impressed by the Tuesday evening presentation, but did not want to comment in depth since he was not personally involved in the study.
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