Boback to Lead Hearing on EMS Crisis
WHAT: Rep. Karen Boback (R-Lackawanna/Luzerne/Wyoming), majority chairman of the House Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee, will convene a public hearing regarding Pennsylvania’s emergency medical services (EMS) crisis. The committee will hear testimony focusing on recruitment and retention of personnel, financial needs, billing constraints, hospital emergency room protocols, local government support initiatives and COVID-19 challenges to the EMS system.
WHO: Boback and other committee members, along with representatives from various stakeholder groups, including Aaron Rhone, PA Department of Health Bureau of EMS acting director; Don Dereamus, Ambulance Association of Pennsylvania legislative committee chairman; Chuck Cressley, Ambulance Association of Pennsylvania legislative liaison; Chris Chamberlain, Hospital and Health System Association of Pennsylvania vice president of emergency management; Don Lynch, Harleysville Area EMS chief/director of operations; Mark Hamilton, Tioga County commissioner; Neil Vaughn, West Grove Fire Company president; Justin Gattorno, West Grove Fire Company fire chief; Gary Vinnacombe, West Grove Fire Company career staff manager; Adam Johnson, Cameron County Office of Emergency Services director; Andrew Stern, West Hempfield Township manager; Tony Deaven, Pennsylvania Fire and Emergency Services Institute (PFESI) board member; Jerry Ozog, PFESI executive director; Robert Mateff Sr., Cetronia Ambulance Corps chief executive officer; and Joseph Gerdes III, PA State Association of Township Supervisors director of government relations.
WHEN: Tuesday, March 1, 1 p.m.
WHERE: Room G-50, Irvis Office Building,
State Capitol Complex, Harrisburg.
LIVE WEBSTREAMING: Barring any technical problems, the hearing will be livestreamed on
pahousegop.com.
Media contact: Andy Briggs, 717-260-6474,
abriggs@pahousegop.com.