Taken from the website of State Senator Carolyn Comitta – www.PASenatorComitta.com

PENN (January 17, 2022) – State Senator Carolyn Comitta recently secured $50,000 in state funding for Southern Chester County Emergency Medical Services/MEDIC 94 to support the purchase of new Philips Tempus ALS Cardiac Monitor defibrillators, for its licensed paramedic units

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The funding helped put the nonprofit organization over the finish line in its capital campaign to make the vital equipment upgrades to all its paramedic units.

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Comitta, who serves on the Senate Health and Human Services Committee, said the investment comes at a critical time as residents, families and communities in southern Chester County face the impacts of Tower’s Health’s abrupt decision to close Jennersville Hospital.

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“Our emergency first responders and response organizations need the most advanced tools and technology to provide the best care to residents in their time of greatest need,” she said. “These investments will help MEDIC 94 paramedics communicate seamlessly with emergency room doctors when lives are on the line and every second counts. I want to thank all of our paramedics and emergency first responders across Chester County for their ongoing work in the face of the unprecedented challenges of this evolving pandemic, coupled with the impacts of sudden hospital closures.”

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The new monitors are critical to expanding the pre-hospital scope of care that first responders can provide while en route to emergency rooms, especially in light of the closure of Jennersville Hospital. They offer a unique combination of diagnostic tools that can communicate vital patient information directly to emergency rooms via a secure, real-time data stream. This complete end-to-end system allows emergency departments to better prepare for rapid treatment, leading to better patient outcomes.

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“This valuable funding championed by Senator Comitta will allow MEDIC 94 to purchase this valuable piece of life-saving equipment,” said Bob Hotchkiss, Chief Executive Officer. “Our dedicated and talented paramedics will now have the Philips Tempus ALS monitor available for use with all of our patients.” 
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Southern Chester County Emergency Medical Services/MEDIC 94 updated and replaced its cardiac monitor defibrillators, which are nearing the end of their 15-year lifespan, through funding and support from the community, businesses, and municipalities, as well as the state. It is estimated that the monitors will be used an average of eight times per day, every day for the next 15 years, meaning nearly 44,000 patients will be treated with the Tempest ALS over its lifespan.

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Comitta noted that she, along with county officials and the state legislative delegation, continue to work diligently toward a long-term solution for Jennersville and Brandywine Hospitals and the many residents and families who rely on them.

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“While these improvements and upgrades may not be a substitute for brick-and-mortar hospitals and emergency rooms, they are much-needed and could not come soon enough to help ensure quality emergency care for our growing population,” she said.

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MEDIC 94 is a regional advanced life support (ALS) service operated by Southern Chester County Emergency Medical Services, Inc., a nonprofit organization founded in 1983 to provide ALS services across southern Chester County. This is accomplished through strong partnerships with fire-company-based ambulance services in Oxford, West Grove, Avondale, and EMS in Cochranville.

To learn more about PA Senator Comitta visit her website at www.PASenatorComitta.com

May 19, 2021

Contact for Media:  Bob Hotchkiss

610-842-1690

Medic 94 Launches Campaign to Raise $180,000 to Replace Aging Cardiac Monitors

— Non-profit paramedic unit serves 17 municipalities in southern Chester County –

— Funds will purchase four state-of-the art cardiac monitors used on 2,700 911-calls annually –

— Modern Tempus ALS units are 11 pounds lighter and will deliver a higher standard of care –

May 19, 2021 — West Grove, PA —  Medic 94, a paramedic unit serving southern Chester County, today launched a critical fundraising effort to replace it’s 14-year old cardiac monitors which have reached “end of life.”  Medic 94 officially announced its special 2021 Capital Campaign at a press event held at its station located near West Grove that featured speakers including previous patients.

Medic 94 is an advanced life support (ALS) paramedic unit operating from two stations in Jennersville and Avondale in southern Chester County.  Paramedics are sent to the most serious 911 calls, for things like heart attacks, shortness of breath, and trauma.   Cardiac monitor/defibrillators are the most critical pieces of equipment used by paramedics in patient evaluation and treatment.  Medic 94’s current models are 14 years old and have reached end of life — all four are no longer able to be factory-serviced, get software updates, and do not meet new mandates from the PA Department of Health. 

At today’s event, Medic 94 announced that it has selected its new cardiac monitor / defibrillators:  the Tempus ALS by Philips.  With a unique combination of monitor and defibrillator devices that can be used separately or together as needed, the Tempus ALS is already proven in the field for prehospital ALS.  As these units will be in service at Medic 94 for the next 15 years, the Tempus ALS was chosen because it is future proof through its ability to be upgraded as the practice of prehospital medicine continues to evolve.  Medic 94 said each of the new monitors and associated equipment would cost $45,000.00.

“The residents and visitors to Chester County deserve nothing short of the best, so we’ve chosen the very best monitor / defibrillators for our paramedics to treat patients and improve outcomes,” said Robert A. Hotchkiss, Jr., CEO and EMS Chief, Medic 94.  “Considering that these monitors will get used an average of eight times each day, every day for the next 15 years, that means nearly 44,000 patients will be treated by these monitors during their service life – that’s an approximate cost of less than $4.00 per patient from now until 2035 and beyond.  By any measure, this is a prudent and smart investment.”  

The Tempus ALS monitors will immediately raise the bar for Medic 94 to improve outcomes for patients.  Medic 94 paramedics will now be able to transmit 15-lead diagnostic cardiac ECGs (electrocardiograms) to the receiving hospital before arrival, letting the ER prepare for early and rapid treatment.  New capabilities mean medics can use video laryngoscopes to improve intubation success, combined with modern capnography that enables continuous monitoring of patient breathing. And the Tempus ALS system is delivered ready for next-generation treatment like prehospital ultrasound, when anticipated new Department of Health regulations are released.  And, for paramedics, the Tempus ALS is 64 percent lighter to carry – just 6 pounds down from 17, while having a smaller footprint and a more user-friendly operation.

“We need the assistance of our entire community to reach our fundraising goal for the new monitors,” said Harold Walls, Chairperson and Community Representative, Medic 94 Board of Directors.  “The valuable life-saving care provided by MEDIC 94 paramedics 24/7/365 is something that all of our residents and business owners depend upon, but we need their help to continue to provide the best service possible. We’d ask everyone to consider a donation – no matter how small or large – to support this necessary investment which will serve southern Chester County for years to come.”

Deploying state of the art equipment and progressive ALS techniques are at the core of why Medic 94 is admired across Pennsylvania.  In 2017, Medic 94 was named as the Commonwealth’s ALS Provider of the Year. In 2019, Medic 94 was awarded the Pennsylvania Cares Award that acknowledges the organization’s dedication to collecting pre-hospital cardiac arrest data for quality improvement purposes.  The organization’s paramedics are regularly recognized in Chester County for their patient care, and Medic 94 is often consulted by other EMS services for its cooperative operating and leadership model with area fire companies and municipalities.

About Medic 94’s Operating Model

Medic 94 is operated by Southern Chester County Emergency Medical Services, Inc. (SCCEMS), a non-profit founded in 1983 specifically provide the very best pre-hospital advanced life support at the lowest cost possible.  Across southern Chester County, from Oxford to Kennett Square, from Cochranville to Landenberg Medic 94 responds to emergencies in 17 municipalities, covering 220 square miles, and provides ALS for 75,000 residents all day, every day – 24 X 7 X 365 with two paramedic trucks based in Jennersville and Avondale.  The southern Chester County community is a mixture of residents who have private insurance, Medicare insurance, Medicaid insurance, or no insurance at all. The funds received from insurance only covers about 1/3 of the Medic 94 annual budget.  To cover the balance of the annual operating budgetof $1.2 million, Medic 94 aggressively pursues federal, state, and local grants; conducts annual fundraising activities; and receives invaluable support from municipalities.  Those efforts cover operations but cannot also support an investment of $180,000 for new cardiac monitors / defibrillators.  

Medic 94 operates in a in strong partnership with local fire-company based ambulance services from fire departments in Oxford, West Grove and Avondale.   Medic 94 employs the “paramedic intercept” method, which dispatches paramedics to the scene only for medical emergencies where ALS is likely needed. For Chester County, only one third of medical dispatches need a paramedic and the balance are handled by very capable basic life support EMTs who staff the fire department ambulances.  When needed, Medic 94 paramedics join with the patient for all transports to the hospital which are handled by the local fire company ambulance.  That partnership extends beyond operations into management, as the SCCEMS board of directors is made up of fire company representatives, township officials, and community members.  

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Medic 94 is a regional advanced life support (ALS) service operated by Southern Chester County Emergency Medical Services, Inc. (SCCEMS,) a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1983 to provide ALS services across southern Chester County. We accomplish this through strong partnerships with fire-company based ambulance services in Oxford, West Grove, Avondale, and EMS in Cochranville.

We employ the “paramedic intercept” method, which dispatches paramedics to the scene only for medical emergencies where ALS is likely needed. For Chester County, only one third of medical dispatches need a paramedic and the balance are handled by very capable basic life support EMTs from fire department ambulances.

Our board of directors includes representatives from the fire companies, township officials, and community members. This approach, along with our high standard of patient care is why Medic 94 is admired throughout the state. In 2017, the Commonwealth named us ALS Provider of the Year. In 2019, we received the Pennsylvania CARES Award because of our dedication to collecting pre-hospital cardiac arrest data to improve the quality of the care provided to patients.
Our life saving work is not possible without the strong support of township officials, businesses, foundations, residents, and patients. We thank you for supporting our 2021 Capital Campaign.

The goal of the Southern Chester County Emergency Medical Services-MEDIC 94 “Replace the Monitors Campaign” is to upgrade the critical cardiac equipment needed to help us save lives. Contributions from you and others like yourself, who may depend on MEDIC 94 paramedics carrying the right equipment to an emergency at your home or in the community, will help us reach this important goal.

The cardiac monitor defibrillators that we are replacing have helped our paramedics save lives for over 15 years. Medical technology has advanced greatly in the last 15 years, meaning it is now time to upgrade to a new, lighter, more effective, more efficient, state-of-the-art model. If you or a loved one has ever received care from MEDIC 94, our paramedics have used a cardiac monitor defibrillator as a part of your assessment and care. While our current cardiac monitors meet baseline criteria for operation, they have reached the end of their life span. We cannot afford to have them fail when we need them the most. 

In emergencies, proper equipment, speed, and even seconds are all factors critical to improving outcomes, especially during a heart-related crisis. The four new Philips Tempus Pro Cardiac Monitor Defibrillators we will be purchasing will meet all modern standards with improved technology and increased capabilities to allow us to better perform our life-saving duties. When it comes to investing in and replacing costly equipment, such as cardiac monitors, our existing operational revenue is not sufficient to support the purchase— we have to use other funding methods, in addition to our regular fund drive, such as this Capital Campaign.

We need the assistance of our entire community to reach our fundraising goal to purchase four new Philips Tempus Pro Monitors. The valuable life-saving care provided by MEDIC 94 paramedics 24-7-365 is something that all of our residents and business owners depend upon, so we need your help to continue to provide the best service possible.

Investing in this much-needed equipment for our paramedics who serve and protect the area where you live and work is critical. We ask you to support our organization with a one-time gift or as a financial commitment spread over four years. Your generous donation is important to the continued health and safety of the entire community.

For more information on the equipment, please visit the Philips website by clicking here. If you have any questions, would like a demonstration of the new equipment or if you just wish to talk about the campaign, please complete our contact form.

Thank you and be safe.

– SCCEMS / MEDIC 94 Board of Directors