News Summer 2025
THE COST OF READINESS: WHAT EXACTLY DOES IT MEAN? From Medic 322 - Lower Providence Emergency Medical Services
It is 3 o'clock in the morning and you are startled awake by the crushing pain in your chest. You may be scared, are in pain, and want assistance so you call 91-1 for an ambulance. The ambulance crew springs into action, responding to your request for assistance at a moment, arriving at the scene of the emergency, often in less than 7 minutes from that call. This occurs countless times across the country; in Lower Providence this occurs more than 3,200 times a year. For reference, LPEMS responded to 4035 calls for service in 2024. However, what many do not understand is exactly what it takes to have this life saving service available around the clock. The cost for this service is staggering and unfortunately hidden from view until that moment of need. Gone are the days where that call activates the pager of volunteers who rise from their beds, drive to the station get aboard the ambulance and then respond to your call for help. This change was necessitated by staggering increases in call volume, more complex medical situations, and the expectation that help would arrive as soon as possible.
responding to emergencies 24/7 involves a substantial cost. The focus on the cost of ambulance service is often spotlighted in the media but it typically is associated with the expense to patients in the form of bills for the service. But what is often overlooked is the costs associated with providing this service. Some often-overlooked items include staffing costs, insurance costs, facilities, vehicles, equipment, training, and supplies. Lower Providence EMS tries to be as open and transparent as possible while complying with privacy laws. We provide a billing transparency page and have publicly available financial information through our annual reports on our website www.Medic322.com. Additionally, we have a 3rd party audit completed yearly, this information is published via a 990 form as required by
the IRS for non-profit organizations and is readily available online. To help explain the costs associated with readiness we are again trying to provide information and a breakdown of what it costs to have an efficient EMS operation. The costliest item is staffing, which includes payroll, benefits, uniforms, and liability insurance. This accounts for nearly 80% of our annual operating budget. When you look at the actual budget line item for salary, one would believe that EMS providers would be well compensated and taken care of; that is unfortunately and shamefully not the truth. The EMS industry is facing a staffing crisis, wages are not enough to keep pace with the cost of living and pay in other competing fields. This leads to providers working for multiple ...continues on page 8
Today, when you see an ambulance responding, most do not know the intricate web of readiness behind an ambulance response beyond the visible efforts of the EMT's and Paramedics. Maintaining a system capable of
Inside This Issue Township Directory.............................2 “For Your Information” Follow-Up.......2 Meetings Schedule & Office Closures..2 Development News ............................4 Police Department News .................6-8 Social Services ....................................8 Local Resources Guide ......................10 Code Enforcement Message..............12
Fireworks Regulations.......................12 Firefighter Recruitment.....................14 Public Works Reminders ...................18 Stormwater Management.................20 Sewer Authority News ......................22 Household Hazardous Waste Events..24 Library Information...........................25 Parks & Recreation News.............26-30
LOWER PROVIDENCE TOWNSHIP, MONTGOMERY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA • WWW.LOWERPROVIDENCE.ORG