BEMS hosts open house, educational forum

BELLEFONTE — Bellefonte Emergency Medical Services hosted an open house and educational forum for local elected officials May 23 during National EMS Week. The event provided borough and township leaders with information on the successes and growing struggles that face the EMS system today, as well as those that pose a potential crisis in the near future.

Fifty-three elected township supervisors, borough council members, mayors and managers from nine municipalities were invited. While representatives from Bellefonte Borough and Spring Township attended, no officials from Milesburg or Unionville boroughs, or Benner, Boggs, Howard, Union or Marion townships attended.

The open house gave attendees an opportunity to see new equipment along with many of the daily tools used to provide quality patient care prior to arriving at the hospital. Multiple safety innovations that help to protect both patients and EMS providers were also highlighted.

The educational forum discussed worsening staff shortages, inadequate insurance reimbursement for services provided and the financial impact proposed changes will have on the viability of many EMS agencies, including Bellefonte, to continue to operate in coming years.

This event was held to create discussion, identify solutions and develop partnerships between local government and EMS. All boroughs and townships in Pennsylvania are required to meet with their local EMS agency to identify the level and types of services needed in their community.