Mount Carmel Council and AREA Services enter into a service agreement
MOUNT CARMEL - Mount Carmel Borough Council entered into an executive service agreement with AREA Services to provide the borough with basic and advanced life support.
The agreement, which will be effective as soon as the Northumberland County Department of Public Safety is notified, was unanimously approved by council Thursday night, and subsequently names AREA Services as the primary responder for the borough.
"I was satisfied with what he (AREA Services owner and president Bernie Rumberger) had to say," said Vice President Leroy "Chico" Moser after a 90-minute meeting with Rumberger at Monday night's workshop meeting.
In the agreement, AREA Services will provide ambulance service for the borough for 24 hours, seven days a week for the remainder of the year and for three additional years. The current rates will remain the same for five years.
For now, the ambulance stationed at the Atlas Fire Company will service the borough, but Rumberger is looking into the possibility of bringing one to be stationed somewhere in the borough.
De facto provider
AREA Services became the de facto primary responder for the borough March 5 when Special Events EMS (SEEMS), based out of Carlisle, pulled all services from American Hose Ambulance Company, effectively shutting down the ambulance.
According to American Hose President James Reed at Thursday night's meeting, all membership dues paid to the ambulance company would be returned to whomever submitted the money. Decision are still being made as to what will happen to the company's three ambulances and equipment.
Additionally, the social club of the American Hose is also shut down, but the fire company is still active and in service.
"I'm still disappointed we weren't informed how bad it was," said Moser about the accusations from former employees of mismanagement and lack of quality patient care.
Reed told the council he was given no reason from SEEMS President Tom Alleman about why he pulled his company from American Hose.
"It's been keeping my head spinning," he said.
There are currently no plans to look into another service provider for the American Hose Ambulance, he added.
The long-standing issue was a hot topic all last year and part of 2008. When American Hose switched ALS providers from Shamokin Area Community Hospital (SACH) to Hazleton-based Tech Transport, Atlas Fire Company made a contractual agreement with AREA Services to provide ALS in Mount Carmel Township. After Tech Transport pulled out of the contract last year, American Hose and SEEMS entered into a contractual agreement.
As American Hose dealt with its contractual changes and a pending lawsuit by SACH, Kulpmont Borough Council and Mount Carmel Township Board of Supervisors voted to switch their primary responder from American Hose to AREA Services.
Several days before American Hose shut down, 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.
In other business
The council approved $123,000 of Community Development Block Grant funding to go toward the Shamokin Creek flood control project.
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