SOUTH PYMATUNING Twp., Pa. (WKBN) — Sharon Regional Hospital could close in almost two weeks, leaving hundreds without jobs and Mercer County without some critical medical services.
As the Jan. 6 deadline nears, alarm bells are ringing for local EMS providers.
First News spoke with Grove City-based Superior Ambulance Service last week. President Douglas Dick expressed several concerns, including critical care for those experiencing a heart attack or stroke.
Sharon Regional is the only accredited cardiac and stroke center in Mercer County.
On Friday evening, Hermitage-based Elite EMS, which primarily services the Shenango Valley, answered the call for an active heart attack in South Pymatuning Township.
Elite EMS Director Courtney Ivan said it took 45 minutes from answering the call to then transport the person to Sharon Regional.
From there, the person received two stents and was transported to Pittsburgh for further care.
Ivan said that time is “muscle” in cardiac situations and every second is “critical.”
“By the time that [the patient] would have arrived at another facility that was able to take care of him, he was getting stents placed in,” Ivan said.
The snow was also a big factor in this situation. Ivan said if the patient went to UPMC Farrell or Greenville, they would have most likely had to be flown to UPMC Jameson or Pasadena.
Ivan also said that EMS services had already been facing a crisis before Steward Health declared bankruptcy.
“There were times even a year and a half ago where we would come in on the ambulance and the hospital was so full, 40 plus patients in the waiting room,” Ivan said. “We would stay in the ER and help them clean beds.”
However, Ivan has seen a significant decrease in patients at the ER since October.
“Sometimes there are only two people waiting,” Ivan said. “I want people to know that if they do need emergency care, yes, we are blessed to have UPMC, but Sharon Regional is still able to take care of their emergency needs at this time.”
Ivan said she also has employees looking at other professions outside of EMS because of Sharon Regional’s impending closure.
“I can’t necessarily blame them for not wanting to have to continually wonder where they are supposed to go with patients.”
Ivan said about 450 patients per month are transported by ambulance to Sharon Regional.
Elite EMS answers about 3,500 calls per year and currently has 22 employees.
The next court hearing regarding the property the hospital sits on is Jan. 3, and Ivan says the community is planning another candlelight vigil to help save the hospital this coming Thursday.
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