House panel hears about emergency services crises in Pa.
Sep. 1—First responders gave a grim assessment Wednesday of the state of emergency services in Pennsylvania, describing for members of the House Majority Policy Committee how a declining workforce and ballooning costs are decimating police, fire and emergency medical services.
"We are under this false pretense that when you dial 911, you'll get qualified personnel to your scene in a reasonable amount of time and it's not true anymore," said Mike Stangroom, director of operations at Rostraver West Newton Emergency Services in Westmoreland County.
One-third of Pennsylvania's accredited police departments began 2022 with 1,229 vacancies, according to the PA Municipal Police Officer's Training Education and Training Commission. Of 2,606 emergency medical technicians who let their certifications expire in 2021, 63% were under age 40, a Department of Health report shows.
The commonwealth's count of volunteer firefighters stood at about 300,000 in 1976 and dropped below 40,000 in recent years, according to the Pennsylvania Fire and Emergency Services Institute.
Emergency services are in crisis. State government responded in the past two years by providing millions in new funding, in part due to pandemic relief funding, adjusted Medicaid reimbursement beginning in 2023 for just the second time in three decades, and modified a fireworks tax to direct all proceeds to fire and EMS.
It's welcomed but not a cure-all.
"It is failing us. We cannot continue down this path without making changes. Other states are doing it right. We, as a team, are not doing it right," Stangroom said.
Stangroom spoke to the detriment caused by a 20-mile rule where ambulance services aren't reimbursed for patient transports until after traveling 20 miles. And, he said, fast food restaurants and convenience stores are hiring at wages above what many EMS stations can provide.
He suggested a pension program similar to one in West Virginia where emergency providers can join at reduced cost could be an important tool for recruitment and retention. His comments on Pennsylvania's enrollment in a national EMS registry spurred the interest of state Rep. Martin Causer, R-67, to look into reverting to state licensing. State Rep. Eric Davanzo, R-58, said he'd separately look into fees paid by emergency responders to travel the state turnpike while on duty.
John Christner, chief of police for Rostraver Township in Westmoreland County, told of the complexities of responding to emergency calls where someone is having a mental health crisis. Officers need training in mental health training for the job and separate supports for their own good, as well as wellness programs for fitness, he said. To do so, he said departments need help to fund such training, adding that offsetting the cost of police academy certification would be a big help.
Police salaries and benefits are lacking for a career fewer people are entering, he said, and equipment like portable radios and replacement batteries are quickly rising in cost.
In addition to increased funding, Christner suggested using police resource officers working in schools and career and technical schools as potential recruitment tools.
Better pay, benefits and training could help make a career in law enforcement more appealing, said Ronald Zona, chief of Westmoreland County Detective Bureau, retired from Pennsylvania State Police.
Christner and Zona each expressed concern about the public perception of law enforcement in light of nationwide protests against police brutality. Responding to a question by state Rep. Torren Ecker, R-193, Zona said district attorneys who fail to prosecute crimes can exacerbate a demoralized police force.
"We will do everything we can to continue to push the message that law enforcement are not bad. In fact, they're essential. They're the most important thing to keep our streets safe," Ecker said.
Cory Snyder, firefighter with Mount Pleasant Volunteer Fire Department in Washington County, said his department had 45 members when he joined in 1998 and all were active. The roster is down to 23 members and about one-third are over age 60.
"It's a struggle. It's a struggle to get manpower and it continues to go down. We don't have people beating our doors down," Snyder said.
He suggested a citizens fire academy as a recruitment tool. Stipends and gas cards, gym memberships and free college tuition, insurance and pensions have all been tried by fire departments to varied success, he added.
Snyder said treating firefighters akin to the Pennsylvania National Guard with respect to routine training could help with retention, especially if employers are reimbursed for wages paid to firefighters while they train. He also suggested a paid incentive program for college tuition, fees and books for those who take courses in emergency services.
