Pennyslvania Ambulance Group to Provide Nonemergency Services
April 20—The Exeter Ambulance Association may have ended its 45-plus year tenure as the primary 9-1-1 provider for Exeter Township, but association officials say they still feel good about the future of the organization.
"We're still providing nonemergency transport in conjunction with St. Joseph Medical Center," association chief Jon Herbsleb said. "And we are seeking out other business opportunities with business partners. We're optimistic that the organization is going to continue and fulfill whatever role people need us to be in."
The ambulance association last month rescinded its intent to cease 9-1-1 service, writing in a letter to Exeter Township supervisors that the association had made "significant strides" this year to improve its financial standing.
In December, the association announced that without funding from the township, it would shutter its 9-1-1- service in 90 days.
With the end of that window looming, the Exeter supervisors opted instead to tap the Exeter Fire Department as the township's primary 9-1-1 provider, a change that went into effect March 23.
The decision followed months of tense discussions between the township and the association, which stressed back in February that the plan was never to shut down entirely.
A licensed EMS service since 2005, the Exeter Fire Department has said in the past that by cross-training firefighters and paramedics, it could run an ambulance service more efficiently, pick up more of the calls that come in and do it at a profit.
Herbsleb said last week that in the wake of the changeover last month, there have been a few email discussions with the township over the association's future role as a provider, but nothing formal.
"We have not had any communication with the fire department, either," he said. Initially, there were hopes from some that the two entities -- the association and the fire department -- could work together in some way for the future of 9-1-1 service in Exeter.
For now, Herbsleb said, the association is focusing on its existing transport contract with St. Joseph Regional Health Network, in addition to some yet-to-be-announced business ventures, and the continuous expansion of its training center.
"If they need CPR or any type of training needs, we're happy to provide it," Herbsleb said. "We teach classes for other providers, for doctors' offices. We had a dentist's office in here this morning."
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