An EMS Membership Is a Smart Investment
Courtesy photo/PH Clearfield EMS Facebook page
With the cost of an ambulance ride often running into thousands of dollars, residents of Clearfield may consider supporting Penn Highlands Clearfield EMS by purchasing a membership — $55 for an individual and $80 for a family.
By Julie Rae Rickard
CLEARFIELD — If you call 911 for a medical emergency, shortly after, an ambulance arrives at your door. It is something we take for granted but it is also something that can mean the difference between life and death.
The truth is a lot goes into responding to an emergency call for community ambulances. Personnel must be properly trained, the equipment maintained and updated as needed.
This is why each year Penn Highlands Clearfield EMS has an annual Open Enrollment/Membership Drive. From now until June 30, residents can get a membership that will cover anything not already covered by your primary medical insurance.
“We operate as a charitable nonprofit company,” said Tim Lumadue, director of Penn Highlands Clearfield EMS in a recent press release. “By joining Penn Highlands Clearfield EMS, you contribute to the sustainability of a vital community service. Memberships help offset the high costs associated with essential emergency medical care, ensuring that our services remain accessible to all.”
They don’t just provide emergency transports with advanced services such as paramedic care, cardiac monitoring and life-saving medications. They also offer routine transports, non-emergency transports and critical care transports.
“We take pride in our highly qualified staff, who all exceed the state’s minimum certification requirements and undergo regular training,” it says on their website.
PH Clearfield EMS members receive, according to the group:
— Comprehensive Coverage: Membership covers any expenses not covered by your primary medical insurance for medically necessary ambulance services. “Say goodbye to surprise bills and unexpected costs.”
— Hassle-Free Billing: They handle all the complex billing procedures with your medical insurance carrier on your behalf. “Leave the paperwork and administrative tasks to us, so you can focus on what truly matters — your well-being.”
— Community Support: “By joining PH Clearfield EMS, you contribute to the sustainability of a vital community service. Your membership helps offset the high costs associated with essential emergency medical care, ensuring the services remain accessible to all.”
— Flexible Options: They offer Family and Individual membership packages to cater to your needs. “Whether you’re seeking coverage for yourself or your entire household, PH Clearfield EMS has the perfect plan for you.”
They have been providing emergency services to members of the community for almost 100 years. Their history began on June 16, 1932, with the Clearfield Fire Company No. 1 ambulance.
According to information provided by PH Clearfield EMS, their first call was for an elderly woman in Bailey Settlement who had a fractured hip. The other ambulance service in the area, operated by Clearfield Hospital, was out of service at that time.
The idea of providing this necessary service was proposed by J. Bruce Smith to the fire company in 1931. Once the company was on board, they began planning for the project.
The first problem was finding the money. They were able to raise $1,200 with a bank loaning them the remaining $1,295 necessary to purchase their first Nash-Miller ambulance from Clearfield Auto Supply Co.
By 1942, they had 221 calls and covered 1,757 miles. A few years later, calls doubled.
The calls and service continued to grow and by 1990, they had four ambulances. Their all-volunteer staff was having trouble keeping up with the demand, leading to the need to hire paid emergency medical technicians.
Eventually, in cooperation with Clearfield Hospital, they became an advanced life support ambulance service.
Currently, the service has five advanced life support ambulances, with LifePak 15 diagnostic cardiac monitors, according to PH Clearfield EMS.
“The LifePak 15 monitor can record a 12-lead EKG that helps diagnose a heart attack. All five units are also equipped with glucometers which check the amount of sugar in a patient’s blood, pulse oximeters that monitor the amount of oxygen in a person’s blood, equipment for establishing IVs, emergency life-saving medications to administer to patients who require them, numerous devices for advanced airway control, bandaging, splinting, patient moving devices, and more,” it says on their website.
Their response team has regularly been under 10 minutes, which is less than the standard 20 minutes for a rural ambulance service.
Being a member can save patients hundreds of dollars as the average ambulance ride
without insurance can cost anywhere between $500 to $3,500. An individual membership is $55 with the family plan costing $80.
PH Clearfield EMS can accept cash, checks and money orders. Memberships received after June 30 will be subject to a 30-day waiting period. Memberships are not prorated.
For more information or a membership application, go to www.phhealthcare.org/clearfieldems, call 814-765-6710, or visit them at 713 West Front St., Clearfield.