Annual Report - Northwest EMS 86

Northwest EMS, Inc.
Serving the communities of northwestern Lancaster County
Annual Report
2015
We once again thank you for your support of Northwest EMS. We depend on you to close the
gap between our operating expenses and the payments we receive for our services.
As we look back on 2015, we are grateful to the municipal bodies, businesses and the greater Manheim
community for their support of the capital fundraising campaign to construct the new ambulance
station being built at 60 West Colebrook Street in Manheim Borough. We look forward to announcing
ribbon cutting and celebratory open house events to dedicate the building later this year as the
construction process nears completion. (For more information see page 11)
We also thank the greater Elizabethtown, Maytown and Bainbridge communities for donating $ 66,036
to purchase a new ambulance in 2015.
As we look forward to 2016 and beyond, we continue to pursue our mission of providing quality
emergency medical care around-the-clock to our service areas stretching from East Donegal Township
to Penn Township. During 2016 we will be extending our coverage areas eastward as we assume
responsibility for providing EMS coverage in Elizabeth and Clay Townships.
Here is our 2015 annual report for your records and information. Please don't hesitate to contact us
with any questions.
Respectfully,
Dale E. Ressler, Board of Director's Chairman
Northwest EMS, Inc.
Serving the communities of northwestern Lancaster County
Mission Statement:
To improve the quality of life within our service
area by providing 24-hour basic and advanced life
support coverage and offering educational
programs relating to emergency health services.
The Elizabethtown station, 380 West Bainbridge Street
(Above) Located in Elizabethtown borough, the Elizabethtown
station serves as our primary headquarters and corporate offices.
The station houses seven ambulances, two squads (or supervisor
vehicles), one wheelchair van, a Cub Cadet ATV and a Mass Casualty
Incident (MCI) trailer.
The Manheim station, 26 East High Street
(Above) Located in Manheim borough, the Manheim station houses
two ambulances.
(Below) Throughout 2015 site plans were finalized for our new
Manheim station being built at 60 W Colebrook Street.
See Page 11 for more details!
The Maytown station, 186 Rock Point Road
(Above) Located in East Donegal Township, at the East
Donegal Township Municipal Building, the Maytown
station houses one ambulance.
Serving our Community…
One patient at a time
2015
BY THE NUMBERS:
Population Served
Square Miles
52,300
55,200
127.5
Municipalities
13
(Based on 2010 census)
(primary response area served)
# of Stations
3
# of Licensed Vehicles
13
Population in BLS primary response area
Population in ALS primary response area
Square miles represent primary response area in Lancaster County
Northwest EMS also has primary response area in Dauphin and Lebanon Counties
Conoy Twp
E Donegal Twp
W Donegal Twp
Elizabeth Twp
Elizabethtown Borough
Manheim Borough
Marietta Borough
Mount Joy Twp
Penn Twp
Rapho Twp
Conewago Twp (Dauphin County)
Londonderry Township (Dauphin County)
S Londonderry Twp (Lebanon County)
Elizabethtown, Manheim, Maytown
Career Staff
Operating Budget
10 ambulances
2 squads
1 wheelchair vans
3
1 car for travel/training use
1 Cub Cadet/utility vehicle
1 MCI trailer
 Emergency Response (Basic and Advanced Life Support)
 Non-Emergency Basic Life Support and Wheelchair Transports
 Stand-By Services
 Education, Prevention, and Outreach Services to the community
66 career professionals (FT & PT)
30 volunteers
3.2 Million
Uncollectible Bad Dept/Sent to Collection
$457,049
911 Dispatched Calls
6,958
Special Use Vehicles
Services
Number of Patients Cared For – 7,678
West Donegal Twp *
1443
(Shown by Municipality)
Elizabethtown Borough *
1252
The following municipalities are not in the primary
response area of Northwest EMS:
Mount Joy Borough
Columbia Borough
West Hempfield Twp
Other locations
*Indicates municipalities that support
NWEMS with a financial contribution to
annual operating costs
Average Response Time
Mount Joy Twp *
639
Penn Twp *
639
East Donegal Twp *
539
Manheim Borough *
Rapho Twp
Columbia Borough
Conoy Twp *
Mount Joy Borough
Marietta Borough
Londonderry Twp (Dauphin Co)
West Hempfield Twp
Conewago Twp (Dauphin Co)
Elizabeth Twp
South Londonderry Twp (Lebanon Co)
Other Locations
Routine wheelchair transports
Total patients cared for
1.31 minutes
7.06 minutes
from dispatch to response
508
452
234
227
193
98
69
66
32
24
14
1249
1060
7678
from response to on-scene
Customer Satisfaction Ratings
96% of respondents rated the services as “outstanding” or “excellent”
4% of respondents did not complete the survey with enough information to quantify results
Subscription Membership
49.34 % of the community purchased a subscription membership in 2015
Northwest EMS is a not-for-profit 501C3 corporation with oversight provided by a
15-member Board of Directors. Our board members are local community leaders who offer a
wide variety of professional business experience.
Each Board member voluntarily offers his/her expertise to the corporate management and
oversight of the operation of Northwest EMS.
2015 Board of Directors:
Dale Ressler, Chairman
Robert Enck, Vice Chairman
Bill Prazenica, Treasurer
Greg Gobrecht, Secretary
Jay Bell
Kathy Burkhart
Jeffrey Butler
Julie Cooper
Nancy Florey
Scott Kingsboro
James Leaming, MD FACEP
Wayne Martin, EdD
Julian Richter
Matt Shenk
Pete Whipple
Owner, Dream Maker Bath & Kitchen
Retired, Susquehanna Bank/BB&T (not pictured)
Chief Financial Officer, Masonic Villages
Codes Compliance, Elizabethtown Borough
Retired, Senior System Engineer/SME
Quality Assurance Director, Pharmaloz Manufacturing, Inc.
Manager, East Donegal Township
Attorney, Gingrich, Smith, Klingensmith & Dolan
Vice President of Human Resources at Pennsylvania College of Health Sciences
Executive Director, Northwest EMS (not pictured)
Director, John R. Dietz Emergency Ctr, Holy Spirit Hospital/Geisinger Affiliate (not pictured)
Retired Superintendent, Northern Lebanon School District
Communications Specialist, TeachBeyond Global
Public Safety Trainer, APCO International
Government Program Administrator, The Benecon Group
In addition to their role on the corporate board, each member is asked to serve on at least one
working committee. Committees include the Finance & Properties Committee, the Personnel
Committee, the Long-Range Planning Committee, the Municipality Committee and the Public
Relations Committee.
Services
Northwest EMS is licensed by the Pennsylvania Department of Health as both a Basic (BLS) and an Advanced (ALS)
Life Support provider.
BLS services are provided by EMT’s and include basic care and treatment such as stabilizing fractures, controlling
bleeding, simple airway management and other basic treatments.
ALS services are provided by a Paramedic who can provide more advanced care and treatment, including cardiac
monitoring, IV interventions and the administration of medication.
EMT’s and Paramedics are trained to a National Standard and are certified by the Pennsylvania Department of
Health/Bureau of EMS. Certification levels for EMS providers in Pennsylvania include:
 Emergency Medical Responder (EMR)
 Pre-Hospital RN
 Emergency Medical Technician (EMT)
 Physicians
 Paramedic (EMT-P)
Our personnel consist of approximately 66 career and 30 volunteer paramedics and EMTs.
(Left) Northwest EMS providers, with the help of police and fire
department, extricate a patient from their 3rd floor apartment
with a stair chair. The only access to this apartment is the fire
escape.
(Right) A Northwest EMS Paramedic begins Advanced Life
Support interventions on a trauma patient while rescue efforts
are underway to move the patient from the truck to an
ambulance for transport.
We often do not learn the outcome of our patients after transferring their care to the emergency department, but
during 2015 there were several positive patient outcomes that we were fortunate enough to learn about.
We welcome former patients to visit our stations and share their recovery with us!
(Above) Paramedic Zach Slothower and EMT
William Splain pose for a picture with one of their
patients.
(Above) Paramedic Chris Burns visits with one of
his patients, who suffered extensive injuries in a
motor vehicle accident in July, 2015.
(Above) Paramedic Brad Anderson talks with
one of his patients who suffered a stroke a
few weeks earlier.
Home on leave from the Air National Guard, this
patient was involved in a serious motorcycle
accident in May of 2015. He suffered major
trauma to every vital organ and required 7 pints
of blood within the first 24 hours. His doctors
gave him a less than 8% chance of survival!
Not yet 5 years of age at the time, this young
patient suffered 2 femur fractures and other
extensive injuries. She remained trapped in the
vehicle for an extended period of time during
which Paramedic Burns provided life-saving
interventions and comforted her as he would his
own child/grandchild. To be invited to her home
a few weeks later was an honor!
On the morning of this call the patient and his
wife did not know the seriousness of the
situation. They only knew ‘something’ was
not right. Anderson immediately recognized
the symptoms of a CVA (stroke).
Reunions like this one are why we do what we
do!
Just a few weeks later the patient returned to
meet the paramedic who saved his life.
PROFESSIONAL AND COMMUNITY COMMITTEMENT
Northwest EMS sponsors a Junior Academy program (formerly known as our Explorer Post).
We are
committed to serving our community not only as a response agency, but also as a leader and a mentor to our
community.
The Junior Academy is a unique opportunity for teenagers, aged 14 – 21 to receive basic first aid training, CPR and other
basic first aid skills. We currently have 8 Junior Academy members who attend training twice each month. With their
basic training they are given opportunity to observe on calls and to practice their skills with non-critical patients and to
assist at standby’s and community events.
The Junior Academy is a unique investment in our community and provides a young person thinking about a career in
EMS the opportunity to see what we the job entails. Our Junior Academy members often continue their education and
become EMT’s and Paramedics and many of them are current providers for us as volunteers and career providers.
Northwest EMS is a Master Level EMS for Children provider,
meeting or exceeding the minimum licensure requirements set forth by the
Pennsylvania Department of Health and the Bureau of EMS.
Master Level Recognition is voluntary and is a four-part process of approval.
To be recognized as a Master Level agency, the agency must:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Demonstrate that it has, in service, specific pediatric equipment and devices
Show proof that all providers have submitted to the Pennsylvania Childline background check process*
Show proof that all providers have successfully completed specific pediatric education, as identified by the
Pennsylvania Department of Health
Provide a minimum number of educational and preventative outreach opportunities in their communities that
focus on the health, welfare and safety of children
*Northwest EMS is fully compliant with all State and Federal Background checks as mandated by Act 15, the
Child Abuse Clearance legislation
Education, Prevention and Outreach Services
Northwest EMS provides a variety of education, prevention and outreach services, including:
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CPR & Hands-Only CPR® classes to the community
Basic First Aid education
Assisting scout groups in obtaining merit badge achievements
Providing stand-by services to sporting events and public gatherings
Providing continuing education courses to EMS personnel
Providing education and prevention services to schools, youth sports leagues, and community
groups
A resource for home safety information
A Crib For Kids® safe sleep education partner
A partner with Lancaster General Trauma Services and the Amish Safety Committee
Hosting Camp Lady Bug and other educational opportunities
Educational presentations to school groups, church groups and others
Presenting a Mock DUI/Prom Promise demonstration to local high schools that includes a
variety of safety messages for teen drivers on the dangers of distracted driving, driving under
the influence and other risky behaviors
Serving as a drop off point for Toys For Tots and Food Pantry Drives
Executive Director, Scott Kingsboro, speaks to
residents at Pleasant View Retirement Community
Northwest EMS hosts Camp Lady Bug
campers from the E-town GEARS program for
a visit with their public safety friends
Children enjoy an Easter Egg Hunt at one of the
community events at which NWEMS participated
Donations to our Toys For Tots® toy drive are
dropped at a local warehouse for distribution
(Left) 2015 Santa Run in Manheim Borough
Northwest EMS provides first aid standby
services at community and sporting events
(Right) Cribs For Kids® Education Materials
In partnership with Cribs For Kids®, Hershey
Medical Center and Children’s Miracle Network,
Northwest EMS provides safe sleep education
and resources to families in our community
(Left) Amish Safety Day, Quarryville, PA
In partnership with Lancaster General Trauma
Services and the Amish Safety Committee,
Northwest EMS provides farm and home safety
presentations throughout Lancaster County
Company History
Northwest EMS is a regional EMS system made up of several community ambulance services that wanted to be able to
provide the highest level of care available while still functioning with a small-town feel. The first merger of our
community ambulances took place in 2000, when the Elizabethtown Fire Company Ambulance and the Northwest
Advanced Life Support Unit joined forces to become Northwest EMS, Inc. In 2004 Bainbridge Fire Company Ambulance
and the Maytown-East Donegal Township Ambulance joined Northwest EMS. And in 2013, the Manheim Veterans
Memorial Ambulance Association (in Manheim Borough) merged their operations to become a part of Northwest EMS.
The Elizabethtown Fire Company Ambulance and Northwest
Advanced Life Support Medic 5 merged in 2000
The Bainbridge Fire Company Ambulance and the
Maytown/East Donegal Township Ambulance merged in 2004
Manheim Veterans
Memorial Ambulance
joined us in 2013
Northwest EMS is a company that is built on the belief that our success comes from the passion and commitment of
our providers, and the vision that the founding members of our community ambulance services had, to provide the best
possible EMS services possible. We believe that our success is measured, not only by our corporate business practices,
but also on the satisfaction of our customers and successful patient outcomes. As a result, we’ve adapted a set of Core
Values that reflects our passion and commitment.
NORTHWEST EMS CORE VALUES
TRUST – Trust is the cornerstone of all relationships and we will continuously strive to build and earn trust both within
the unit and community we serve
COMMITMENT – Committed to the community we serve. In all things, we do what we say we are going to do
INTEGRITY – Adherence to high principles and professional standards. We do what we say we will do, the right thing,
not the easy thing
PARTNERSHIP – Teamwork is of the utmost importance in all that we do, in both our interaction with the community
and with each other
COURAGE – Having the courage to do what is right, even in the face of personal or professional adversity
ACCOUNTABILITY – Being responsible for our actions
QUALITY – Commitment to provide quality services through positive change and continuous improvement
PROFESSIONALISM – Following the highest standards of ethical conduct
TEAMWORK – Achieving more by working together than we can achieve as individuals
COMMUNICATION – Communicating expectations to employees or volunteers, and providing honest and timely
feedback on performance
EMPOWERMENT – Developing and retaining individuals who continually excel in their performance; we will empower
people to successfully accomplish goals
COMMUNITY – To be caring and compassionate to those who we serve and to strive to make the place we live and work
or volunteer better for all
RESPECT – To respect each other and those we serve
STAFF – The members of our organization are valued as our most vital asset
Northwest EMS is recognized throughout South Central Pennsylvania as a professional EMS service that provides
excellent EMS response services as well as an agency that is active in community outreach services, public safety
education, and prevention services. Our staff takes pride in serving our communities one patient at a time and to make
a difference in each and every patient encounter.
The communities we serve (represented on page 3) are a mixture of rural, agricultural, urban and industrial areas and
encompass more than 127 square miles and a population of more than 55,000 people.
Map displays the Northwest EMS response area
911 EMS dispatches in Lancaster County are prioritized as Class 1, Class 2, or Class 3
Class 1 emergencies are those calls that the caller has indicated to the 911 dispatcher that the victim, or patient, is
suffering a life-threatening situation. Class 1 emergencies require the dispatch of a paramedic and an emergency response
by the EMS crew (a response using lights and sirens).
Class 2 emergencies are those calls where the caller has indicated to the 911 dispatcher that the victim, or patient, is in an
emergency situation, but the patient’s condition does not appear to require ALS services. Per dispatch protocol, these
types of dispatches do not require that a paramedic be dispatched, but do indicate that an emergent response by EMS is
appropriate with the use of lights and sirens.
Class 3 emergencies are those calls where the caller indicates to the 911 dispatcher that the victim, or patient, is stable but
in need of an ambulance. Response to Class 3 calls does not require the use of lights and sirens.
(Right) The Lancaster County-Wide Communications (LCWC) dispatch center.
LCWC dispatches all EMS, Police and fire units In Lancaster County. LCWC uses
computer-aided design technology (CAD), as well as Emergency Medical
Dispatched (EMD) protocol to determine EMS response criteria.
Looking Ahead
As Northwest EMS looks ahead to 2016 and beyond we look forward to the completion of the new Manheim
station being built on West Colebrook Street. (See page 11 for details on the process)
In 2016 we will continue to seek ways in which to improve our response capabilities and better serve our
community. Already underway are plans to develop a strong, in-house, educational program for our providers
so that they have access to the training and education necessary to keep their skills sharp.
Targeted training areas include additional pediatric training, Autism and Spectrum Disorder training and tactical
response training for critical incident responses such as active shooters.
In the spring of 2016, Northwest EMS will begin providing both BLS and ALS services in Clay Township and
Elizabeth Township, an area currently served by Brickerville Fire Company Ambulance. Brickerville Fire
Company has operated an ambulance and served that community with BLS services since 1969, however, as is
common for volunteer ambulances, Brickerville Fire Company has seen a decline in volunteer EMS staffing
forcing them to take their ambulance ‘out of service’ frequently due to a lack of volunteers. In October, 2015,
the chief officers of the fire company invited Northwest EMS to meet with them to discuss the options and
services that Northwest might be able to offer.
After several meetings an agreement was reached (in December, 2015), to provide EMTs to Brickerville Fire
Company on a ‘leased’ or ‘contracted’ basis, five days a week, with the Brickerville volunteers supplementing the
additional days.
As we entered 2016, conversations were continuing for more advanced services that would provide 24/7 ALS
MICU coverage. At the time of this report, it was anticipated that Northwest EMS will merge EMS operations
with Brickerville Fire Company (as we have done in previous communities) and that Northwest EMS will be
providing all EMS services in that community with a target date of May 2016.
Construction Update:
The need for a larger EMS station in Manheim has been something that has been needed for some time.
We are excited to see construction of a new station underway. It is anticipated that the new station could be ready for
occupancy by early to mid-summer. The station will be located at 60 West Colebrook Street in Manheim Borough. The
EMS station will include 4 bays, a meeting or training room (that will be available to the public for meetings), as well as
crew quarters and offices.
The project is a collaborative effort with Manheim Borough who has purchased a
parcel to the rear of the property on which to construct a new police station.
Below is a rendering of the new EMS station, as well as several pictures of the
construction throughout 2015.
(Above and Left) Construction sign depicts the use of the
former American Legion property and color rendering depicts
the building design
(Below) The first construction efforts began in November 2015
Funding for the EMS project has been accomplished with a Capital Fundraising Campaign titled the Campaign To Save Lives,
under the leadership of Campaign Chairman, Coach Mike Williams, and co-chairmen Dr. Lewis E. Jury and Mr. Mike Graham.
Mike Graham was a founding member of the Manheim ambulance (as founded by the Manheim VFW Post 5956 in 1948).
Coach Williams and Dr. Jury have graciously committed themselves to this project out of a desire to serve the Manheim
community in a project that will have a decades-long impact on the lives of the residents in the Manheim community.
Our fundraising goal for this campaign was $900,000. At the time of this report, pledges totaling over 1 million dollars has
been received. We anticipate making announcements regarding the completion of the building project in the next several
months.
For information on the construction project or to support the Campaign, contact Lori Shenk at our Manheim station.
717-371-8282.
(Left) At the time of this report
construction continues to progress and it
is anticipated that we will be occupying
the new station by mid-summer.
What our patients are saying:
Random surveys are sent to patients that we treat/transport. These are just a few of the
comments shared with us through those patient surveys.
“Excellent service”
"I was treated with respect"
"Excellent, Excellent, Excellent. Very Pleased"
"I have required several trips to hospital ER and was always treated with respect”
“My comfort was always taken into consideration. Now I am in a nursing home and require
wheelchair transport. Each time I have been treated with care and concern for my welfare”
"My son was only 2 months old at the time and they were very responsive and encouraging. The
crew kept me informed of my son's progress and of everything they were doing/testing along the
way. You guys did a great job at a time of stress. Thank you!"
"Very professional”
"I would be very proud if they worked for me"
"I was very comfortable and I felt that I was in good (no great) hands"
"Thank you very much"
"The crew was very caring and made me feel at ease"
"The staff put me at ease, provided care and I was able to relax with less pain"
At Northwest EMS we are Serving
our Community, one patient at a time.