Pa. Ambulance Service Eyes New Year Return
Dec. 19--West Hazleton Community Ambulance could return as the borough's first-due basic life support responder when the calendar flips to a new year.
Borough council voted unanimously Thursday when naming the ambulance association first-due BLS responder, effective early January.
The vote followed efforts undertaken by West Hazleton Fire Company to reorganize and restructure the ambulance association, which was removed from a list of emergency responders in the borough due to struggles with finances and volunteerism, according to Bob Segaria, assistant fire chief.
"Basically, the fire company itself has assumed a management role," Segaria explained. "When the ambulance went down, we decided we aren't going to let it fail."
If all goes as planned, the community ambulance will be back on the road Jan. 1, the date recognized in a resolution adopted by council.
Segaria said the fire company started the ambulance many years ago. The community ambulance eventually broke away and operated independently.
Some members of the fire company also served as association members but Segaria said its long-term representatives were "shut out" as problems began to arise.
"The (association) members that were there really didn't want anybody to know their business," he recalled. "Realize the fire company has been looking at things behind the scenes. We said, 'When it's time, this is what has to happen.' They failed. We took it over."
Remaining members of the ambulance association agreed to the fire company takeover, he said. The fire company created an ad hoc committee that began discussing how it could help the struggling ambulance association around July or August, he said.
"When they finally got to the point where it became detrimental to the association ,we said, 'This is what's going to happen. We're going to help you out,'" he recalled.
The fire company has been evaluating the ambulance association's finances and maintenance needs for its lone ambulance vehicle, he said.
Since the fire company has multiple paramedics and EMTs on staff, it formed a quick response service that has been responding to high-priority calls, he said.
Councilman Gerald Grink said recently that the quick response unit works to stabilize patients until other ambulance units arrive on scene.
"We've been receiving lengthy ambulance times," Segaria added. "The fire department runs a quick response unit. They handle very high priority calls ... traumatics -- that sort of stuff. The high-priority calls that we felt weren't being taken care of."
Segaria cited a good working relationship with borough council when saying the process has gone smoothly.
Struggles with finances and volunteerism resulted in the ambulance company's removal as a responder, Segaria said.
"They can't get the truck on the road if they don't have the money," he said. "No volunteers equals no money."
Despite the struggles, the ambulance is on track to returning to service on Jan. 1, he said. It will participate in West Hazleton's annual Santa Claus program, which began Friday.
Council already voted to name the ambulance a responder. The lone remaining task involves sending a letter that asks Luzerne County 911 to recognize the community ambulance as first-due BLS responder, he said.
Grink and council President Lou Pacelli said it's important for residents to be aware of developments with the ambulance since it soon carry out its membership fund drive. Membership gives the ambulance the ability to bill a patient's insurance -- and waive any fees beyond what the insurance plan covers, Grink noted.
"If they don't belong, they'll have a payment," Grink said. "It's in the best interest for people to come out and support the community ambulance."
Copyright 2016 - Standard-Speaker, Hazleton, Pa.
