Cameron County Ambulance Service, Inc·
**Important Notice to the Residents of Cameron County and all surrounding Counties**
Cameron County Ambulance Service (CCAS) wants to inform our community of a significant change that affects non-emergency and interfacility ambulance transports originating from Penn Highlands Healthcare facilities.
Penn Highlands Healthcare has entered into a contractual agreement for patient transports with JET Response EMS and Medical Transport.
Penn Highlands Healthcare has directed this process through its Transfer Center, under the leadership of Patrick Cooley, Director of the Transfer Center.
As directed, transfers are to utilize JET Response EMS and Penn Highlands Clearfield EMS, with local ambulance services only being contacted when those services are not available.
Under this agreement, all interfacility transfers are routed through Penn Highlands’ centralized Dispatch Center, known as the Connect Center.
As part of this process, local ambulance services are only contacted when Penn Highlands Clearfield EMS and JET Response EMS are unable to meet their transportation needs. It also states they have two "strong allies" in their healthcare mission and it is not our local EMS agencies.
It is important for our community to understand that the staff at Penn Highlands Elk do **not** control this decision. Hospital staff are required to follow the Connect Center process and do not have the authority to independently choose which ambulance service is utilized.
**What This Means for Cameron County Residents**
• **PATIENT CHOICE WILL BE LIMITED.** Residents may no longer be given the option to choose their local ambulance service for certain transports.
• **Memberships may not be honored.** Many Cameron County residents hold CCAS memberships that help cover the cost of ambulance transport. These memberships will not be recognized by outside ambulance services, potentially resulting in unexpected out-of-pocket expenses.
• **Local EMS services are financially impacted.** Interfacility transports are a necessary source of income that help sustain 24/7 emergency coverage, staffing, training, and equipment for community-based ambulance services like CCAS.
• **This impacts access to local emergency care.** When local services lose essential transport revenue, it places added strain on the ability to maintain consistent coverage for emergencies within the county.
**Why This Matters**
At the heart of this issue is **PATIENT CHOICE**.
Cameron County residents should have the right to choose who provides their ambulance transport—especially when they are members of and financially support their local EMS service.
Decisions made within large healthcare systems should not override a patient’s preference or disregard the impact on rural, community-based emergency services.
Community-based EMS agencies are rooted in the areas they serve. We know our residents, our geography, and our needs. When patient choice is removed, it affects not only EMS operations, but the overall health, safety, and sustainability of emergency care in our community.
**What CCAS Is Doing**
Cameron County Ambulance Service is actively working alongside other local EMS agencies to address and challenge this change. Our focus is on advocating for patient choice, protecting community-supported EMS services, and ensuring Cameron County residents continue to receive reliable, high-quality emergency care.
We encourage residents to stay informed, ask questions, and engage respectfully with local and state leaders regarding the importance of supporting community-based emergency medical services.
**Call to Action – How You Can Help**
We encourage Cameron County residents to make their voices heard:
• Ask questions about **patient choice** when discussing transport needs with healthcare providers.
• Advocate for the ability to choose your local ambulance service for non-emergency and interfacility transports.
• Contact Penn Highlands Healthcare leadership and local and state representatives to express concerns about how these decisions impact patient choice and rural EMS sustainability.
• Support your local ambulance services that rely on community involvement to continue providing 24/7 emergency care.
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Your voice matters. Community advocacy plays a critical role in protecting local EMS services and ensuring patient-centered care.
CCAS remains fully committed to serving Cameron County and responding to 911 emergencies without interruption. We appreciate the continued trust and support of our community.
— Cameron County Ambulance Service
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