Clifton Heights, Folcroft and Lansdowne fire companies could lose Mercy Fitzgerald Hospital paramedic services by the end of August if they don’t climb on board with a requested contract modification from Trinity Group, writes Kathleen E. Carey for the Daily Times.

The hospital contracts with five local fire departments to provide paramedics. The arrangement has been unchanged for 10 years.

With staffing shortages and increased paramedic costs, Mercy Fitzgerald and its nonprofit parent company Trinity Group now want EMS staffing for these fire companies to be based on actual call volume with an “equitable cost- and profit-sharing arrangement”.

Darby Borough and Yeadon have agreed to modify their contracts.

Trinity Group and the Delaware County Health Department assured every effort would be made to provide EMS coverage to the affected communities.

“Delaware County leadership will continue to coordinate with Trinity and any impacted communities, to ensure that emergency services are maintained for all residents,” said a statement from Delaware County Health Department spokesman Matthew Rankin.

Lansdowne Borough Manager Craig Totaro described the EMS arrangement modification as a “pretty big thing we’re going to have to work through.”

“It’s very impactful for the borough because there are financial implications that are profound,” Totaro said.

Read more about Mercy Fitzgerald’s EMS service in the Daily Times.

In April 2020, four combat medics from the U.S. Army Reserve joined the Mercy Fitzgerald Campus EMS team to keep communities safe during this COVID-19 crisis.