Local EMS agencies receive support through AHN Wexford Hospital
Several Butler County EMS agencies were among the beneficiaries of an equipment and education grant awarded to Allegheny Health Network’s Wexford Hospital.
The $182,500 grant from the Highmark Foundation provided Quality EMS, Cranberry Township EMS and Harmony EMS with a mix of advanced tools such as video laryngoscopes, IV infusion pumps and nitrous oxide systems to enhance patient care in the field.
AHN Wexford and its Prehospital Care Services team distributed the lifesaving gear to a host of representatives from Allegheny, Beaver and Butler counties on Tuesday, June 3.
“We’re not able to capture some of these projects just based off of our regular budget,” said Matt Nickl, Cranberry Township EMS executive director. “Partnerships with health systems like this helps us tremendously. We’re very fortunate to have this.”
Cranberry’s department garnered two IV infusion pumps to bolster its current supply.
Meanwhile, Quality EMS, which has four ambulances and three that operate daily throughout the county, collected a nitrous oxide unit worth about $4,500.
Under current Pennsylvania protocols, only licensed paramedics are authorized to utilize the units. However, about a year ago, representatives from Quality EMS spoke to state officials about developing a pilot program that would allow EMTs to use nitrous oxide units.
“With the help of the grant from AHN, we now have a third unit, so every unit we have on the road will have a nitrous oxide unit,” said Quality EMS executive director Conrad Pfeifer. “Hopefully, EMTs will have a way to administer pain relief without a paramedic being present.”
Pfeifer said state legislators in July will vote on whether or not EMTs can provide advanced lifesaving care through those units.
The support comes at a critical time, as EMS organizations face rising costs and limited budgets, while working to deliver lifesaving care throughout the region.
Regionally, eight municipalities, along with Cranberry Township EMS and Harmony EMS, are taking part in a large-scale study to uncover what can be done in the midst of ongoing funding and staffing issues.
“We finished up with the data collection,” Nickl said. “The consultant started to go over some different funding models. I think at our next meeting we’ll start discussing and pinpointing which funding model would suit the communities best.”
Nickl said the study should be completed sometime in September or October of this year.
