PITCAIRN, Pa. — A financial strain is forcing the Pitcairn Ambulance Association to no longer take emergency calls, which are instead being handled by neighboring Monroeville EMS.
Pitcairn Ambulance Association President Scott Bierman said the agency is in the red because of high workers’ comp insurance bills and a lack of reimbursement of up to $50,000 from insurance and Medicare. Thirteen employees were recently laid off, leaving the service with only seven part-time workers.
George Petkus does not want to see ambulance service go away in Pitcairn, especially since he lives next door to the department and has previously called it in an emergency.
“They don’t even get their ambulance, they run right up to the house. They came to my place when my wife fell down,” Petkus said.
Bierman told Channel 11 News that there won’t be a negative impact on the community, with Monroeville so close.
“It’s not affecting the response times because they are within a mile and a half and two miles of our municipality,” Bierman said.
Officials said they are working on a restructuring plan and will continue to accept non-emergency transports with neighboring hospitals to pay off bills. They hope to resume emergency services within the next three to six months.
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