American Hose to reimburse membership dues, says Mount Carmel Borough Council President

Published: March 11, 2010

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by justin strawser

MOUNT CARMEL - One of the first concerns Mount Carmel Borough Council President Tony Matulewicz had when he learned that American Hose Ambulance Company shut down last week was whether residents were going to be reimbursed for membership dues collected days before the closing.

Matulewicz said he had a conversation with American Hose President James Reed, who told him all the money would be returned.

Last week, Special Events EMS (SEEMS), based out of Carlisle, pulled all services from American Hose, effectively shutting down the ambulance company. Earlier in the week, SEEMS had voluntarily suspended advanced life support (ALS) services, but not basic life support services, after an inspection by Susquehanna Emergency Health Services (SEHS) Council revealed several ALS equipment deficiencies.

The situation took Matulewicz by surprise. He said he instructed all parties involved to keep him and council updated as the company switched service providers three times in less than two years and faced pending lawsuits, rumored financial trouble and accusations of mismanagement and lack of quality patient care.

"I feel like the rug has been pulled out from under us," he said.

According to Act 45, the next closest responder would take the place of American Hose's primary response position - which would be AREA Services in Atlas. Due to this law, no emergency meeting is needed to place AREA as the primary responder in the borough.

However, council will make a decision by vote at next week's borough council meeting, at which AREA Services owner and president Bernie Rumberger will present a contract to the borough, Matulewicz said.

He added that council would like to station an ambulance in the borough, and Rumberger will be looking at the amount of call volumes and times of calls to determine whether that request is feasible.

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