Meadville, PA – Today, Secretary of Health Dr. Debra Bogen visited the Meadville Area Ambulance Service to discuss the Shapiro Administration's ongoing emergency medical services (EMS) recruitment and retention efforts and other investments in EMS professionals across Pennsylvania.
Meadville Area Ambulance Service is one of Pennsylvania's 1,205 EMS agencies comprising 46,057 EMS-certified professionals who work every day to protect our communities.
“Emergency medical services professionals are an essential part of the health care system,” said Secretary Bogen. “Knowing that you will have well-trained and dedicated individuals arriving at your door 24/7 in an emergency is a safeguard we want for all Pennsylvanians. The Shapiro-Davis Administration is committed to helping people both enter and remain in this vital profession.”
Since joining the Shapiro Administration in 2023, Secretary Bogen has traveled extensively throughout the Commonwealth, meeting with EMS professionals, their agencies, and stakeholders to determine what they need to thrive, as well as the best way to encourage more residents to join the EMS profession.
To further support the EMS profession, DOH recently partnered with three EMS units to fund summer camps to introduce high school students to the EMS profession, giving them a firsthand look at what the job entails and preparing them for a successful career as a first responder down the road. The summer camp pilot program was so successful, it is being expanded next summer. DOH is working with EMS agencies and other stakeholders to develop resources to help agencies recruit residents interested in pursuing a career in EMS, as well as working with schools to highlight EMS as a potential career opportunity for students preparing to enter the workforce.
Earlier this year, the Department of Health (DOH) launched a $1 million tuition assistance program to help recruit and retain EMS professionals. Funded by the Fireworks Tax Act each year for the next three years, Pennsylvania residents who obtained a Pennsylvania state certification as an Emergency Medical Responder (EMR), Emergency Medical Technician (EMT), Advanced Emergency Medical Technician (AEMT), or Paramedic after July 1, 2023, are eligible to have a portion of their tuition reimbursed. In addition, Pennsylvania-licensed EMS agencies are eligible to receive reimbursement of expenses related to recruitment and retention efforts, up to $1,250 per fiscal year.
The Shapiro Administration has also worked to increase EMS mileage reimbursement rates through Act 15 of 2023 with a $20.7 million investment. This investment in EMS protects critical access to health care in a state where EMS agencies respond to nearly 2.5 million 911 calls annually.
The bipartisan 2024-2025 budget Governor Shapiro signed into law in July demonstrates the administration's commitment to supporting EMS professionals. The budget allocated $30 million for the Fire Company and EMS Grant program which supports training and retention efforts for EMS in the Commonwealth. The grants are open to fire, EMS, and volunteer rescue squad organizations, covering a variety of eligible expenses, including the purchase or repair of ambulances and fire trucks, firefighting and medical gear and tools, training materials and certifications, recruitment and retention materials, construction and upgrades to buildings, and debt reduction.
In 2023, EMS professionals responded to 2,457,325 calls for service, most often for emergency response to incident scenes. Retaining individuals in the EMS system is a priority for leaders within the Commonwealth, as EMS professionals put their lives on the line each day to help Pennsylvanians in crisis and other circumstances.
To learn more about EMS in Pennsylvania, visit the DOH’s website.
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