Berwick Area Ambulance Association, Geisinger to merge
Representatives from these organizations agree that the merger, once approved by the state Attorney General’s Office, will help them collectively provide better emergency care for the region and support the local ambulance service’s presence well into the future.
“This partnership positions us to continually improve our quality and breadth of services in ways that we could not do independently,” said Chuck Humphrey, EMT, member of the BAAA Board. “We’re very excited to join this outstanding organization and work more closely with our colleagues from Geisinger.”
Under the new agreement, Berwick Area Ambulance will continue its current mission and services. Operations in Berwick and the areas served by its satellite stations will continue unchanged, and the team will continue its active relationships and linkages with regional hospitals, nursing homes, EMS, police, fire and all others involved in the healthcare and protection of the community. Geisinger will provide medical direction.
Berwick Area Ambulance Association employs 64 people, all of whom will be offered employment in their existing roles as Geisinger employees. A local manager will be hired to focus on improving care, quality and operations, as well as thoroughly assess BAAA’s range of assets and equipment.
“We are working with the clinical and support staff to ensure a smooth transition for the existing employees,” said Paul Christophel, executive director of Holy Spirit EMS. “Berwick Area Ambulance Association has a great reputation for providing quality service, and it’s our goal to secure its future sustainability.”
Currently, the association operates eight ambulances, three wheelchair vans, one utility vehicle and one special event trailer. Services offered include emergency medical services, non-emergency medical services, Advanced Life Support (ALS), Basic Life Support (BLS), routine medical transportation and EMS billing services.
About Geisinger
Geisinger is among the nation’s leading providers of value-based care, serving 1.2 million people in urban and rural communities across Pennsylvania. Founded in 1915 by philanthropist Abigail Geisinger, the non-profit system generates $10 billion in annual revenues across 134 care sites - including 10 hospital campuses, and Geisinger Health Plan, with 600,000 members in commercial and government plans. The Geisinger College of Health Sciences educates more than 5,000 medical professionals annually and conducts more than 1,400 clinical research studies. With 26,000 employees, including 1,600 employed physicians, Geisinger is among Pennsylvania’s largest employers with an estimated economic impact of $14 billion to the state’s economy. On March 31, 2024, Geisinger became the first member of Risant Health, a new nonprofit charitable organization created to expand and accelerate value-based care across the country. Learn more at geisinger.org or connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and X.
