Berwick Area Ambulance Association, Geisinger merger approved
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BERWICK, Pa. – The Pennsylvania Attorney General has granted approval for the Berwick Area Ambulance Association (BAAA) and Geisinger’s West Shore Advanced Life Support Services, Inc., to merge. On July 1, 2018, Berwick Area Ambulance will join Geisinger’s West Shore Advanced Life Support Services, Inc., which currently includes Danville Ambulance Service and Holy Spirit EMS.
Under the new agreement, Berwick Area Ambulance will continue its current mission and services, including 911 services. Additionally, Berwick Area Ambulance will continue its annual membership subscription program, which is due to renew on August 1, 2018. The memberships help reduce the out-of-pocket expenses patients pay for ambulance services.
Operations in Berwick and the areas served by BAAA’s satellite station 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.
Geisinger is currently recruiting a battalion chief/assistant manager of field operations and two Advanced Life Support (ALS) Supervisors for the Berwick region. BAAA employs 64 people, all eligible employees will be offered employment in their existing roles as Geisinger employees.
“We are planning to invest in several facility upgrades and continually improve our service long into the future,” said Chuck Humphrey, EMT, member of the BAAA Board. “In fact, we’re already working more closely together and have made significant improvements in our interdepartmental communications.”
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.
“We’re excited about the future of Berwick Area Ambulance,” said Paul Christophel, executive director of Holy Spirit EMS. “We’re planning to help this outstanding group of first responders provide even better care to the people of the greater Berwick region.”
Under the new agreement, Berwick Area Ambulance will continue its current mission and services, including 911 services. Additionally, Berwick Area Ambulance will continue its annual membership subscription program, which is due to renew on August 1, 2018. The memberships help reduce the out-of-pocket expenses patients pay for ambulance services.
Operations in Berwick and the areas served by BAAA’s satellite station 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.
Geisinger is currently recruiting a battalion chief/assistant manager of field operations and two Advanced Life Support (ALS) Supervisors for the Berwick region. BAAA employs 64 people, all eligible employees will be offered employment in their existing roles as Geisinger employees.
“We are planning to invest in several facility upgrades and continually improve our service long into the future,” said Chuck Humphrey, EMT, member of the BAAA Board. “In fact, we’re already working more closely together and have made significant improvements in our interdepartmental communications.”
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.
“We’re excited about the future of Berwick Area Ambulance,” said Paul Christophel, executive director of Holy Spirit EMS. “We’re planning to help this outstanding group of first responders provide even better care to the people of the greater Berwick region.”
About Geisinger
Geisinger is committed to making better health easier for the more than 1 million people it serves. Founded more than 100 years ago by Abigail Geisinger, the system now includes 10 hospital campuses, a health plan with more than half a million members, a research institute and the Geisinger College of Health Sciences, which includes schools of medicine, nursing and graduate education. With more than 25,000 employees and 1,700+ employed physicians, Geisinger boosts its hometown economies in Pennsylvania by billions of dollars annually. Learn more at geisinger.org or connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and Twitter.
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