Cresson Area Ambulance Services, Inc.
Emergency Medical Services
725 Second Street
Cresson, PA 16630-1139

Email address cressonems@verizon.net
EMS Regional Office - Southern Alleghenies EMS Council, Inc.
Member - Laurel Highlands EMS Alliance

Mission Statement: To Provide Total Quality Preeminent Medical Care to our Community

BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Gerald F. Stevens, President
Andrew Carney, Vice President
O. Thomas McConnell, Secretary
Pat McMullen, Treasurer
Robert Biter
Robert M. Koons
Scott Eberhart
Beth Fulton EMT/P, Employee Representative
Nancy Fulton EMT/P, Employee Representative
Carla Hoenshell, EMT/P, Employee Representative
James Effinger, NREMT/P Manager
Patty Stevens, Office Manager
Linda Wyland, Billing Clerk
Barbara Romani, Solicitor
Dr. R. Scott, Magley, Medical Director

HISTORY
The ambulance service had its start when Norman P. Casher came to Cresson and began a funeral business in 1929. Vehicles first used served as hearses in addition to carrying patients to the Altoona Hospitals. A Willis-Knight hearse was first used in 1933, next came a Pontiac with no heater, a Dodge then a Buick which received red lights, siren and oxygen. The Cadillac to follow was given a first aid kit and CB radios were installed in 1976.

The original attendants were Norman Casher, Charles Kennedy and Francis "Perce" Casher. Ambulance service was given to patients from Cresson, Gallitzin, Loretto, Lilly and Ebensburg. The rule of the attendant was "keep breathing, stop bleeding." The first fees for ambulance services were $10 unless the patient expired enroute, in which case transportation was free.

As the Casher-Kennedy Funeral Home expanded so did Prehospital Care. First Aid equipment was placed in the vehicle and the first class of graduates from the Emergency Medical Technician class was made up of Francis P. Casher, Tim Pupo, Robert Sheehan, Jr. and Tim Casher. Members of the Cresson Fire Company and local Physicians including Dr. Bergstine, Dr. Priedeaux, Dr. Kirby and Dr. Cassidy, assisted in medical care to the sick and injured prior to departure to a hospital.

On November 27, 1978, the Charles M. Kennedy Funeral Home of Cresson had announced plans to form a non-profit ambulance service corporation to be known as the Kennedy Ambulance Service, Inc. The name was incorporated because Mr. Charles M. Kennedy donated all the existing medical equipment, the Cadillac and lent the service money to purchase a 1976 Modular Ambulance at a cost of $16,000.00. The twelve charter members were: Charles Kennedy, Alan Holl, Mary Holl, Robert Sheehan, Jr., Jonathan Speck, Ron Stevens, Barry McGuire, Robert Hogue, Dave Fulton, Joseph Adams and Susan Adams. The ambulance was staffed by these members and Betty Fulton, Cindy Sheehan and Carol Stiles all Registered Nurses.

In 1980, Advanced Life Support came to the Cresson Area. Four Emergency Medical Technicians became Paramedics. They are: Galen Swope, Robert Sheehan, Jr., Mary Holl and Jon Speck. Jack Seymore, a Paramedic from AMED and medic in Vietnam, joined the service and helped train the new Paramedics. A $7,000.00 heart monitor/defibrillator and all necessary equipment including an advanced two-way radio capable to communicate with Medical Command Doctors was purchased through public donation to accommodate the Advanced Life Support service. The hospital emergency room was essentially brought to the patient's home.

In April of 1981, the service bought the George and Lee Quartz Building on Second St for a generous $35,000.00. Before the purchase, the ambulances were housed in buildings apart from each other. One at the Kennedy Funeral Home and the other in Sankertown through the generosity of Robert Seymore. After a lot of hard work and dedication of remodeling the new building, the service held a ribbon cutting ceremony and open house on October 31, 1981.

In 1988, the Kennedy Ambulance Service, Inc. through the Articles of Amendment, changed the name of the non-profit corporation to the Cresson Area Ambulance Service, Inc.

In 1991, due to the growing demands of the ambulance business, the service elected to change its form of government from within to the specialties of individuals outside the service. A Board of Directors was established to handle the financial and legal matters of the every day operations of the business. The original board members included: Carl McDermit, Pat McMullen, Rev. William Mullen, Michael Dignan, Andy Carney, Bob Biter and three elected internal representatives.

On October 6, 1991 a Mortgage Burning Ceremony was held at the station. Nine of the twelve charter members were in attendance and given recognition along with George and Lee Quartz. Recognition was given to the Founding Father's Norman Casher, Francis Casher and Charles M. Kennedy with portraits hung on the conference room wall. In 1993 building renovations, including lounge, full size kitchen, men's and women's bunk rooms and showers, were began to accommodate twenty four hours a day, paid, in station crews.

In April 1999, the service suffered the loss of an original and then current and active Board Member, J. Michael Dignan who died.

Currently the ambulance service operates three Advanced Life Support Ambulances to cover Cresson Borough, Cresson Township, Sankertown Borough, Munster Township, Loretto Borough, and parts of Allegheny Township. The units are housed in the building at 725 on Second Street in Cresson Borough with coverage for first crew calls twenty four hours a day, 365 days a year. The Service recently was asked by the Ashville Fire Department to assist in operating an EMS service for the Ashville Borough and surrounding areas. An Advanced/Basic Life Support unit was placed in service in May of 2001 with volunteers from the area to staff the unit on a volunteer basis. Ashville Fire Dept. through their generosity has provided an ambulance and space in the fire hall to house the ambulance. We currently have 4 full time, 40 part time and 24 volunteer employees.

OFFICE HOURS & ADDRESS
725 Second Street Cresson
Monday thru Friday 8:00a.m. to 1:00p.m. and 2:00p.m. to 5:00p.m.

PUBLIC AWARENESS
Programs are given by staff upon requests to groups and/or organizations. In house is encouraged to include tours of building, ambulances and equipment.

PUBLIC EDUCATION
CPR and First Aid training are taught upon request depending on the availability of Instructors.

SUBSCRIPTIONS
Subscriptions are currently available. Brochures and are available in the office of 725 Second St. Cresson.

APPLICATIONS FOR EMPLOYMENT
Applications for PA Certified Emergency Medical Technicians and Emergency Medical Technician Paramedics are available in the office of 725 Second St. Cresson

JR. MEMBERSHIP
Applications can be obtained at the office for Jr. Members. Jr. members constitute the ages of 16 to 18. No experience or EMS education necessary. We will train and educate. This is to give an individual an idea of what is involved in health care for them to decide if they would like to further their education in this field after high school.

SUBSCRIPTION PLAN

1. Household Plan $50.00
a.) All family members residing in the home and temporary house guests.
b.) This plan is limited to individual residences and not applicable to nursing homes, dormitories, etc.
c.) We reserve the right to determine eligibility

2. Family Subscription $40.00
a.) Husband, wife, and any children under 18 years of age

3. Individual subscription $30.00
a.) Anyone 18 years of age or older

SUBSRIPTION BENEFITS
EMERGENCY TRANSPORTATION

1. Subscribers
a.) Unlimited emergency transports per person to any hospital within a 30 mile radius
b.) Subscribers will be charged the current fee for mileage for any trip beyond the 30 mile radius if the corporation is unable to collect said amounts in full from the patient's medical insurance carrier.
c.) If a membership is purchased after March 1, a 15 day waiting period is applied.
d.) This membership permits cresson area ambulance service, inc. to collect directly from any insurance company any benefits available.

2. Non-subscribers
a.) Will be billed the current rate for emergency and/or non-emergency transportation.
b.) Must provide insurance information and will be responsible for any balance.

NON-EMERGENCY TRANSPORTATION

1. All non-emergency transports must be medically necessary and have a Certification of Medical Necessity signed by a physician.

2. We reserve the right to determine necessity.

Business office: 814-886-5641