Pennsylvania’s emergency services system is in crisis.

We’re past the time of hoping recruitment efforts will bring enough volunteers into the system to answer the call when emergencies arise. Government at all levels, from the most local township or borough to the state and federal levels, also must realize that emergency response can no longer be provided either for free through volunteers or at a cutthroat rate through Medicaid’s low reimbursement rates.

Warren County had a problem when volunteer fire departments couldn’t keep up with the number of emergency calls they received.

What do we call it when a non-profit, professional ambulance company can’t keep up with the overflow call volume created by the unavailability of volunteer firefighters?

The answer is simple. It’s a crisis.

Swift action is needed.

If we want an ambulance and EMTs available to answer every call, we’re going to have to pay for it. And we need to create a pipeline of emergency medical technicians, because we simply don’t have enough of them available.

At the federal level, that means less of a focus on “Build Back Better” and the rest of the political pork being doled out in Washington, D.C. and more of a focus on basic life-saving services by increasing the Medicaid reimbursement for services.

At the state level, it means creating a revenue stream to entice more ambulance providers to enter the business as well as reducing the cost to become an EMT. At the local level, it’s realizing emergency services can no longer be free.

More importantly, it will take teamwork and real leadership to end this crisis. EmergyCare officials see the current level of service being sustainable for six months or, maybe, a year if nothing changes.

The time for study and talk are gone. It’s time to act. Now.