Chester City and VMSC Emergency Medical Services have signed a five-year, $2.8 million deal this week, locking in the nonprofit that stepped in after Crozer Health shut its doors a year ago, writes Harold Brubaker for The Philadelphia Inquirer.
According to chief executive Shane Wheeler, the Lansdale organization posted a $470,000 shortfall in its first year in Chester. The $2.8 million agreement will help fund service operations for insured and uninsured patients and address equipment needs.
Since May 2, the ambulance company has handled 8,324 calls, with around a third not requiring hospital transport. In many of those situations, crews effectively served as primary care providers for residents.
“We’re assessing blood pressure or helping someone with their medication, helping people get up” from a fall, said Wheeler.
In the first year serving the area, VMSC reduced ambulance response times from over 12 minutes to approximately five and a half minutes.
Under the contract, VMSC will deploy at least three basic ambulances to serve Chester and nearby communities, with two staffed around the clock, as well as a commander trained in advanced care.
Read more about VMSC Emergency Medical Services in The Philadelphia Inquirer.
This is how things looked a year ago when Crozer Health was first closing Crozer-Chester Medical Center.
