Lower Valley EMS working with Allegheny Valley North COG, municipalities to improve financial condition

The Lower Valley Ambulance Service is working with the Allegheny Valley North Council of Governments (AVNCOG) to improve its financial condition.

The ambulance service contacted the AVNCOG in early October to inform them of the service’s financial status. A meeting was held Nov. 11 to discuss what was needed and the necessary steps to achieve it.

General Manager Robin Renfrew said reimbursements have been down, and expenses have gone up because of the covid pandemic. The service is dependent on revenue from reimbursements and its subscription drive.

A capital fund was created to help pay for a new ambulance, which will cost $300,000.

A large majority of ambulance services do not receive tax funds from local government, and “we are left to survive off of reimbursements and fundraising,” Renfrew said. “A lot of expenses have not been reimbursed by the insurance.”

The crew serves eight communities — Harmar, Cheswick, Springdale Township, Oakmont, Verona, Springdale Borough, Rural Ridge and Indianola.

Renfrew said the ambulance service requested a monthly stipend of $1,000 from each representative municipality, totaling $12,000 yearly from each municipality.

“We sought help from municipalities just to let them know, ‘Hey, we have these outstanding expenses, we can use your help and support at this point,’ ” she said.

Frank Meledandri, Cheswick councilman and its AVNCOG representative, said the next steps for the service will be to better define their situation and to get help from outside sources and EMS organizations.

“Once we better understand the situation, then we will see if the communities can help out or if there is something we can do about it,” he said.

The service’s operations will not be affected by the financial situation, according to Renfrew.

“Our employees and management are dedicated to ensuring we will remain in the community and to serve the public when they need us,” she said.

Renfrew emphasized that Lower Valley’s financial condition is reflected across all EMS services nationwide. Many are struggling to find volunteers because people are busy, ambulance services are facing lower reimbursements for expenses and it’s more costly to secure the necessary tools to serve their communities.

Both parties already have made the necessary steps to begin the process of helping the service reorganize. The service enlisted the help of a consultant to review how it should conduct business on the administrative side and provide guidance on how to move forward.

Thomas Benecki, executive director of AVNCOG, reached out to the state Department of Community Economic Development to see if it would sponsor a peer-to-peer program for the service.

“From there we can see what funding is available,” he said.

Benecki hopes progress can be made before the end of the month but said he expects delays because of the holiday season.

The council made sure to assure Renfrew they are aware of the great work the service is offering the community.

“All the members of this team value very highly the ambulance service,” Meledandri said. “We are all together and wanting to help them.”