PITTSBURGH, PA — Pennsylvania health officials highlighted new investments aimed at strengthening the state’s emergency medical services workforce during a visit to an EMS training center in Allegheny County earlier this month.
What This Means for You
- The proposed state budget includes $6.6 million in additional EMS funding.
- Funding could support equipment, workforce training, and recruitment programs.
- EMS agencies respond to more than 2.2 million emergency calls annually in Pennsylvania.
Pennsylvania Department of Health Secretary Dr. Debra Bogen visited the EMS West Regional Council on Monday, March 9, to demonstrate how additional funding could support emergency responders with new medical equipment and training resources.
The proposed funding would come from the Emergency Medical Services Operating Fund, which supports EMS agencies across the Commonwealth.
Equipment Designed to Improve Emergency Care
During the visit, EMS officials demonstrated video laryngoscopes, a specialized device used to help paramedics perform tracheal intubation, a procedure that places a breathing tube into a patient’s airway.
Intubation is used during life-threatening emergencies when patients cannot breathe adequately on their own.
Failure to successfully perform the procedure on the first attempt can increase the risk of complications. Video laryngoscopes improve visibility inside the airway, helping responders increase first-attempt success rates and reduce potential trauma.
EMS West Regional Council recently purchased the devices for distribution to agencies across its 16-county region, which includes Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Butler, Cameron, Clearfield, Elk, Fayette, Greene, Indiana, Jefferson, Lawrence, McKean, Potter, Washington, and Westmoreland counties.
“Every minute counts when EMS professionals are dispatched to an urgent medical situation,” Bogen said.
Strengthening the EMS Workforce
Officials said the Shapiro administration has invested more than $56 million in EMS support over the past three years through the EMS Operating Fund.
The funding has supported equipment purchases, workforce recruitment, training programs, and tuition assistance for individuals pursuing EMS certifications.
Pennsylvania’s EMS agencies respond to more than 2.2 million emergency calls each year, providing lifesaving care and transporting patients to hospitals.
However, officials say many EMS systems face challenges including staffing shortages, limited equipment resources, and financial constraints.
Recruitment and Training Programs
In 2024, the Pennsylvania Department of Health launched a three-year tuition assistance program to help expand the EMS workforce.
The program provides up to $5,000 in reimbursement for individuals who earn certifications as Emergency Medical Responders, Emergency Medical Technicians, Advanced Emergency Medical Technicians, or paramedics.
EMS agencies can also receive up to $5,000 annually for recruitment and retention initiatives.
Policy Changes Supporting EMS Services
State officials also pointed to Act 15 of 2023, which increased Medicaid mileage reimbursement rates for ambulance services.
The change was designed to help EMS providers recover costs associated with transporting patients, supporting financial stability for ambulance services statewide.
Valley Ambulance Authority EMS Chief Brian Herskovitz said investments in EMS equipment and workforce support are critical to maintaining emergency response capacity.
“When we invest in EMS, we are investing in the safety, health, and resilience of every community across the Commonwealth,” Herskovitz said.
Officials said paramedics and pre-hospital registered nurses with Valley Ambulance Authority and Murrysville Medic One will begin using video laryngoscopes as part of emergency response operations in the region.
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