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Brookhaven leaders, fire and police chiefs seek local paramedic solution after Crozer, Taylor closures
Summary
Brookhaven officials and emergency-service leaders described urgent regional planning to replace lost ALS paramedic coverage after two hospital closures, including proposals, temporary donations and a local "chase car" plan funded in part by fire-company buy‑ins.
Brookhaven Borough Council members and local emergency chiefs reported an urgent, ongoing effort to restore advanced life‑support (ALS) paramedic coverage after the recent closures of Crozer and Taylor hospitals.
Council officials and fire and police chiefs described a patchwork response that includes temporary private donations to sustain coverage through Aug. 1, proposals from hospital systems and nonprofit providers, and local municipal and fire‑company plans to field a paramedic chase car. The council heard updates at its June 2 meeting and was told officials expect more concrete cost figures before the next council meeting.
The issue matters because Crozer and Taylor historically supplied a large share of ALS paramedic capacity in Delaware County; their closing has left municipalities scrambling to ensure timely paramedic response for life‑threatening calls. Speakers said delayed ALS coverage could lengthen transport times and increase strain on remaining hospitals.
Chief Montella, who the council identified as a key EMS coordinator in the region, summarized recent negotiations and setbacks. He said multi‑municipality talks had produced a high‑cost proposal that broke down when one town signed separately, and that private donations and a nonprofit provider, VMSC, have provided short‑term relief. "VMSC...is covering Chester. It takes a lot of the burden off of the counties that are deficient with paramedic coverage," Chief Montella said.
Fire officials described two competing models under consideration: (1) subcontracting a full ALS vehicle and crew from a third‑party provider (the pricier option that some municipalities accepted independently), and (2) a locally based, municipal/fire company ALS chase‑car model that places a single paramedic in a response vehicle to ride to high‑priority calls and join BLS crews. Brookhaven fire leadership said the chase‑car model is less costly and aligns better with local control and continuity of personnel the crews already know.
Brookhaven Fire Company and Middletown’s Rocky Run agreed to "buy in" to vehicles and key equipment as their local contribution. The fire chief told council the companies had purchased at least one chase car and monitors, and had taken a loan to fund that buy‑in so the borough itself would not have to provide all startup cash. "We bought in today. So now we're gonna try to hard numbers now and see where we're at but I think we can be lower than all that," a fire official said during the meeting.
Council members and chiefs also discussed formal proposals from Riddle Memorial Hospital and others. The transcript shows Riddle submitted a written proposal to provide full‑time ALS chase‑car service, and council members said Riddle’s contract price was too high for local budgets. One figure discussed during the meeting was roughly $593,000 for a third‑party contract split among four municipalities, which would have equated to an estimated $270,000 annual share for Brookhaven under the proposed population‑based split. The fire chief described Riddle’s $625,000 figure as including variable charges (drugs, fuel) billed separately, a structure local leaders found unattractive.
Council members stressed that the county has arranged some private donations and that the borough has short‑term funds to cover gaps until more permanent arrangements are finalized. Officials said they expect clearer cost estimates to be available between the June meeting and the next regular council meeting.
The council and emergency leaders cautioned that the situation remains fluid: some municipalities have already signed independent contracts, and private donations and hospital proposals may expire. Council members thanked the volunteer fire and EMS personnel and urged residents to support local fund drives; town residents also urged the borough to prioritize stable local paramedic coverage.
Looking ahead, officials said they will return with detailed cost estimates and a recommended model at a future meeting; no binding contract between the borough and a third‑party ALS provider was approved at the June 2 meeting.
Ending: Council members said they will continue coordinating with neighboring boroughs, fire companies and hospitals and aim to present firmer numbers and a recommended approach at the July council meeting or via inter‑meeting communications.
