Renovo EMS fights to regain certification
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RENOVO -- The Renovo Fire Co. says it continues to fight to regain state certification to restart emergency medical service (EMS) ambulance operations.
The Pennsylvania Department of Health took Renovo Station 29's ambulance out of service on Aug. 14.
The company was told by the Seven Mountains EMS Council it would be put on hold.
Reached Friday, Health Department Press Secretary Mark O'Neill said, "Renovo Fire Department-Emerald Hose and Ladder Co. notified the Department that they no longer have a medical director, which is a necessary position to operate an EMS agency."
Bucktail Medical Center has been operating ambulance service around the clock in the meantime.
The situation sounds like a tug of war, with municipal officials having turned the ambulance service reins over to Bucktail because of uncertainty over its ability to cover calls over the past year..
Corey Aungst this week told The Express he is the company's director of EMS, and he argued that Western Clinton County residents are under duress due to the situation.
Besides the BMC ambulance crew, other ambulances are authorized to respond to calls, including Cross Forks, Lock Haven, Flemington, Beech Creek and Snow Shoe for BLS services.
Both Lock Haven EMS and Goodwill (Flemington) EMS are the only companies in Clinton County to offer ALS and BLS services.
Aungst and April Hill of Station 29 came to The Express on Thursday and asked the newspaper to sit with state Rep. Stephanie Borowicz at her downtown Lock Haven office to talk about the situation.
However, Borowicz and her aide denied the newspaper entrance to her office and declined to comment.
After talking to Borowicz, the two came back to The Express to address the issue.
Aungst and Hill said the station has available 21 certified EMS personnel to cover calls..
Additionally, about 18 firefighters through the fire company are cross trained in EMS, they said.
Aungst insists the company is financially stable, has sufficient manpower and resources to answer calls.
"We barely ask for grants or support as we are financially stable. We are able to do this through fundraising and insurance reimbursements," he said.
Aungst alleged the station has been "harassed" by state Health Department's Bureau of Emergency Medical Services over the situation.
He further alleged the ambulance was shut down due to Bucktail Medical Center wanting to take over, even amid its financial issues, but he provided no information to back that up.
BMC recently revealed it is having difficulty meeting payroll as its revenues have diminished despite significant changes put in place to improve efficiency and cash flow.
It is seeking financing and has met with county commissioners and others to that end.
The hospital says Medicare and Medicaid reimbursements are too low, and its patient volume needs to grow.
BMC CEO Tim Reeves told The Express on Friday that a new ambulance was providing daily coverage in Renovo and Chapman Township, with Noyes Township next in line.
"We have one crew 24/7 and have been responding to all calls," Reeves said.
Further, he said BMC expects to soon put into operation a mobile CT scanner to increase outpatient volume critical to the rural hospital's future.
Aungst insists, despite a track record of uncertainty over the past year or more of Station 29 being able to answer EMS calls, that the company is able to supply the necessary treatment and care as needed.
"We are fighting for the community that deserves equal care," Aungst said.