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1. What is the Countywide EMS Response Plan?

Luzerne County's "Countywide EMS Response Plan" was drafted by a committee of stakeholders and approved by the Pennsylvania Department of Health (PA DOH) in October of 2016 to address the response times of both BLS (Basic Life Support) units and ALS (Advanced Life Support) units who are under the auspices of Luzerne County 9-1-1.  The committee, with the assistance of Emergency Medical Services of Northeast Pennsylvania (EMS of NEPA), consists of both volunteer and paid agencies from all areas of Luzerne County including County 9-1-1 officials.

2. What does this Plan mean for residents of Luzerne County?

The Plan allows for an expedited response for residents when calling for an ambulance, as 9-1-1's Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) system chooses the next closest available agency when a primary unit isn't available, which expedites patient care.  At this time, the distance based on the responding unit's station location to the municipality requiring a response.

The municipality that you reside in, (a City, Boro or Township) names who the primary responder is for BLS and/or ALS response.  When that agency is not available, 9-1-1 has to send a "mutual aid" unit.  By using the next closest available unit, it eliminates any issue of where the response is not set up in the best interests of the residents who dial 9-1-1 for help.  

3. Does this cover Fire Departments too?

No, the EMS Plan strictly regulates EMS agencies only.