Emergency medical services have come a long way in the Poconos | Something to Think About

There is a week set aside for just about everything. This past week was no different, it was EMS (Emergency Medical Services) Week.

For those of us who grew up with the role models of Johnny and Roy, the two leading characters in the TV series Emergency, the lure of the world of emergency medical services prompted a surge in becoming an EMS first responder.

Though times have changed, the need for EMS services and its providers has not. Keep in mind that the providers are a vital part of the system, there is a great need for those who have an interest to explore the opportunities and careers that are available today. The loss of volunteers in EMS has changed the way services operate. Today career positions are at the forefront as the one element of EMS that cannot be replaced by technology, the human factor. Many of the providers working today started their service in high school, the perfect place to learn the skills that last a lifetime.

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This year’s theme was “Rising to the Challenge”. It provided the opportunity for recognition of the frontline heroes dedicated to providing emergency medicine that saves so many lives every day. EMS services today have come a long way from the early days of “swoop and scoop”, meaning just put them in the ambulance and drive fast. Today lives are saved by the many highly skilled providers serving our communities. The past couple of years have shown that their skills made a difference in the lives of so many.

The cost of operating EMS services is high. That value of that ambulance you see drive by, when fully stocked, is more than the cost of a home. And that equipment inside is very much state-of-the-art. Remember too that EMS services are a 24-hours-a-day, 365-day operation.

Whether an ambulance wheels roll or not, it and the crew must be ready to respond. While the costs of operation have risen significantly, the reimbursement side has not. The true tale of do more with less.

Modern EMS is considered to have started with Jean Dominique Larrey, Napoleon’s chief physician, who organized a system to treat and transport injured French soldiers. During the Civil War, the Union Army developed an organized system to evacuate soldiers from the field. Lessons learned during the Civil War were applied as civilian EMS systems formed during the late 1800s. By 1960, a patchwork of unregulated systems had developed, with services sometimes being provided by hospitals, fire departments, volunteer groups, or undertakers.

Physicians staffed some ambulances, while others had minimally trained or untrained personnel. Despite the major expansion in health care facilities and the emphasis on medical specialization after World War II, the EMS system had not received much attention or innovation.

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Locally in the 1960’s, Monroe County General Hospital (now LVH-Pocono) provided the only ambulance service by having the cleaning staff handle ambulance calls.

Remember the reference to “scoop and swoop"?

Changing times have put more demand on EMS systems throughout the country, and right here at home. The fact that EMS is an essential public safety service has become a fact, it is not a luxury. As earlier mentioned, there is a need for providers at every level of the system. Emergency Medical Responder (EMR), Emergency Medical Technicians (EMT), Paramedics and Prehospital Nurses (PHRN) are largely responsible for providing care to patients prehospital.

Unlike many areas of the country, training programs are available locally.

EMT programs are offered at both the Monroe County and Pike County Safety Centers, MCTI, both Northampton and Luzerne Community Colleges and through LVHN’s Emergency Medical Institute (EMI). Paramedic programs are offered through both EMI and Luzerne Community College. EMR classes are offered through some of these locations as well.

Although it shouldn’t happen only one week a year, we all should give thanks to the many men and women who staff our EMS services for their dedicated commitment to caring for those in need. Maybe you are already trained or perhaps this is the time for you to consider joining their ranks!

The Monroe County Ambulance Association primary member agencies are: Bushkill Emergency Corps, Lehigh Valley EMS-West End, Pocono Mountain Regional EMS, St. Luke’s Emergency & Transport Service, and Suburban EMS.

— Debbie Kulick writes a weekly news column for the Pocono Record and Tri-County Independent. She serves on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic as an EMT.

This article originally appeared on Pocono Record: Debbie Kulick: Recognizing EMTs in the Poconos