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Emergicare thanks city for snow response; says EMS funding agreement in progress
Summary
Emergicare’s president publicly thanked Erie firefighters, streets crews and the city for assistance during a major snow event, said the ambulance provider handled about 305 emergencies during the period and is working with the administration on an EMS funding agreement.
David Basnak, president and executive director of Emergicare, told Erie City Council on March 5 that the private ambulance provider responded to roughly 305 emergencies during a recent severe snow event and that city firefighters and public-works crews helped keep ambulances moving when vehicles became stuck.
Basnak described the assistance as “paramount” during the multi-day crisis and publicly thanked the Erie Fire Department and the city for help. He said Emergicare has been working with the administration and council members to address EMS funding barriers and that the organization and the city are developing an agreement to formalize assistance; Basnak asked council to visit Emergicare to see how city funds are used.
Basnak told council Emergicare began serving Erie in 1983 and now responds to about 20,000–22,000 emergencies annually within the municipality. He said the company appreciates the council’s allocated funding for the year and looks forward to completing a formal agreement with the administration.
Council members thanked Emergicare for the work, with one councilor offering to help arrange a council work session or site visit to the Emergicare facility so members can see operations firsthand. The administration later said it is working on several grant responses and program plans but did not provide further details about the timing of the emergency-medical-services agreement at the March 5 meeting.
Basnak said Emergicare’s door is “always open” to council members for education and site visits; council members indicated they will coordinate with the administration and the provider to plan a visit and continued conversation about EMS funding and operations.
