3 municipalities change coverage
Birdsboro, Amity and Union townships leave Reading Hospital-affiliated service
Three Berks County municipalities have elected to change their emergency medical services provider to Western Berks Ambulance Association.
As of Wednesday, Western Berks Ambulance Association provides 24/7 emergency medical services at the advanced life support and basic life support levels for residents of Birdsboro and Amity and Union townships.
The Western Berks coverage area now includes 17 municipalities in Berks.
“We are excited,” said Anthony Tucci, association chief-executive director, in a statement. “The expansion into these three new municipalities has allowed us to bring our community focused EMS service provider to southern Berks. We have been serving communities for 60 years and now we are here and ready to continue serving you for many more.”
The three municipalities were previously covered by Southern Berks Regional EMS, which merged with TowerDIRECT, a nonprofit ambulance company owned by Reading Hospital-based Tower Health, on Dec. 6.
Western Berks will have two stations to serve the newly added municipalities: 318 Main St., Birdsboro, and the Amity Township Fire Company, 47 W. Pine Forge Road. The stations will be staffed by at least one ALS ambulance and additional peak truck coverage will be provided by Western Berks Ambulance Association.
The association will also provide medical support on fire and police scenes, support to fire and police for EMS training, community outreach for municipal events, and a general membership program for residents.
Western Berks Ambulance currently has 42 paramedics and 54 emergency medical technicians. Last year, they responded to more than 15,000 calls with their current fleet of 14 ambulances and nine wheelchair vans, according to a press release.