Exeter Ambulance not going out of business
Feb. 09--With the clock ticking down on the Exeter Fire Department's March takeover of 9-1-1 service in the township, officials with the Exeter Ambulance Association want to make one thing clear: They're not going anywhere.
"We're not going out of business," Ambulance Association Chief Jon Herbsleb said in advance of tonight's board of supervisors meeting, at which the future of emergency services is scheduled to be discussed. "It's been a huge misconception. I've had to assure our partners and our vendors that we weren't shutting down."
The confusion over the ambulance association's future can be traced back to its announcement in December that without funding from the township, it would shutter its 9-1-1 service in 90 days. With the end of that 90-day window looming, Exeter supervisors opted instead to tap the Exeter Fire Department as the primary 9-1-1 provider, effective March 23.
The decision by township supervisors followed months of tense discussions between the township and the Exeter Ambulance Association, or EAA, which has served as the primary 9-1-1 provider for Exeter and neighboring St. Lawrence for more than four decades.
While 9-1-1 service has been paramount to the EAA's operation over the years, it's not the only work it does. Through a partnership with St. Joseph Regional Health Network, the EAA has expanded into routine medical transports, which it plans to continue regardless of what happens between now and March.
Additionally, EAA officials are excited about the prospect of moving into community paramedicine, a new and evolving model of community based health care in which paramedics treat patients at home rather than transporting them to a hospital.
Despite the added opportunities, the EAA isn't planning to abandon its 9-1-1 service just yet.
Now, in the wake of internal changes and new leadership, EAA officials say they are planning to rescind that 90-day notice in hopes of continuing to provide emergency service to the township they've served for the past 46 years.
"We want to service the residents of this township," said Kathy Cortellessa, who was named the EAA's new president last month. "We've been here for 45 years, saving thousands of lives, and this is about our township. We're at a stalemate. We have fought as hard as we could to try and be collaborative with all the parties involved."
Moving forward, Herbsleb added, the EAA is "striving to be a very present community partner."
"We are still fighting for what we believe is the proper service model for this township," he said. "And that's whether it be a completely standalone ambulance service, or fire and ambulance working under one emergency services umbrella."
As such, Cortellessa and Herbsleb are urging Exeter residents to come out tonight and make their opinions known on how they'd like to see 9-1-1 service provided in the future.
"Whether you're for or against, show up and tell the supervisors how you feel about this particular issue," Herbsleb said. "Because this is your life, your family's life, your community's life that's going to be impacted.
"The end goal is to make emergency services in this township stronger, more viable, and work in a true partnership, instead of always seeming to be against each other."
Herbsleb was referring to what some have characterized as a turf war between the ambulance association and the fire department.
"We always seem to be pitted against each other," he said. "But we both have the same common goal: protection of health, safety and the welfare of residents. And what's driving all this is how that is going to be done, how it benefits the residents in the long run, and how to make sure that whatever does truly come out of this is the most seamless and transparent option possible."
Regardless of the past, both Herbsleb and Cortellessa agreed the EAA was heading into a new chapter and a good direction.
"I believe that coming forward with our changes, we can be a good solid contributor to this township," Cortellessa said.
Herbsleb added: "There's no reason to reinvent a wheel just because it got squeaky. We have a very bright future in front of us. And that's where we want to be.
"We want to be your community partner."
Contact Becca Y. Gregg: 610-371-5032 or bgregg@readingeagle.com.
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