The city of Chester narrowly escaped a long-term lapse in its EMS coverage with the closure of Crozer Health when officials reached an agreement Friday with Lansdale-based nonprofit VMSC Emergency Medical Services for coverage, writes Kenny Cooper for WHYY.
VMSC hopes to come online on May 2.
“This agreement with VMSC came just in time, is a testament to the commitment and urgency shared by all involved,” Chester Mayor Stefan Roots said in a statement, thanking Delaware County Council for helping to secure the partnership.
The VMSC deal will make sure Chester is covered by three basic life-support ambulances, an advanced life-support chase car, and access to a communications center.
EMS capability is essential with longer transit times. The city’s closest emergency rooms are now at Riddle Hospital in Media and Mercy Fitzgerald Hospital in Darby.
Patients needing high-level trauma centers will have to go to Philadelphia, at the Penn Presbyterian Medical Center, or to Wynnewood, at Lankenau Medical Center.
The agency aims to respond in under eight minutes to life-threatening emergencies.
City officials said VMSC personnel will probably be stationed out of one of the Chester Fire Department’s fire stations “to foster collaboration, expedite response times, and enhance community coverage.”
Find out more about Chester’s EMS capabilities at WHYY.
