MEDIC 91 TO CONCLUDE IN 2018; GOOD FELLOWSHIP AMBULANCE WILL PICK UP CALLS

On October 5, 2017, Chester County Hospital announced to its paramedics that Medic 91 will be coming to an end on January 8, 2018. The hospital will transition calls for paramedic support to Good Fellowship Ambulance.

Chester County Hospital has been analyzing the changes to the emergency medical community’s Advanced Life Support (ALS) services for several years. It has considered various solutions in order to continue its Medic 91 service, but acknowledged three facts have influenced this decision:

• More fire and ambulance crews in Chester County have become ALS certified, thus the service boundaries have changed to accommodate all units. There are currently 13 ALS-certified units serving Chester County, including Medic 91.
• Chester County’s 9-1-1 protocols have changed, creating specific criteria for which medic units can be dispatched. ALS units respond to calls where a patient is having a medical condition that involves the heart, lung, brain or trauma.
• Insurance reimbursement rates for emergency medical services (EMS) continue to decline statewide, year after year. Medic 91 provides ALS services, but it does not transport patients; the hospital’s paramedics drive “chase” vehicles and work in tandem with other EMS companies.

Medic 91 and Good Fellowship Ambulance both provide ALS services to the following nine municipalities: West Chester Borough, West Goshen, West Bradford, Newlin, Pocopson, Thornbury, West Whiteland, Birmingham and Westtown. In addition, Medic 91 provides coverage to parts of East Goshen, which GFAC will add to its area.

Good Fellowship has been serving Chester County for over 65 years. Its community-focused mission and commitment to creating a positive patient experience aligns with Chester County Hospital’s. Good Fellowship Ambulance will increase its ALS coverage by scheduling a minimum of two medics 24/7, with up to four medics staffed during peak hours. The communities currently served by Medic 91 will not see any disruption to EMS calls.

Chester County Hospital’s Human Resources and organizational Development department will work with the paramedics to help them secure employment at other ALS services or within the Penn Medicine system.