McCandless-Franklin Park Ambulance Authority setting up for good year

Editor’s note: This story has been updated to reflect the number of calls the ambulance authority responded to in 2022.

When Christopher Dell came on board last July as chief of the McCandless- Franklin Park Ambulance Authority, he said, one of its goals was for him to help “right the ship.”

2022 was headed to a year-end deficit of $156,000, something Dell is “confident” will be different this year.

“Our outlook is very bright,” he said. “I’m positive.”

In 2022, the nonprofit ambulance authority responded to more than 9,000 calls annually, Dell said.

It has five ambulances and two paramedic response vehicles.

It does not receive tax funds, but makes its money from billing for services, an annual subscription program or donations, according to Dell.

When he came on board last July, Dell made “a lot of changes” to the authority’s business operations and financing to help save money.

“We really took a deep dive into every operating expense to find saving opportunities,” Dell said.

Changes in employee health insurance helped save $100,000. Adjustments in policies for worker’s compensation and other insurance saved $35,000, he said.

Overtime costs were decreased by hiring more staff, Dell said. The ambulance authority now employees 35 people, including paramedics, emergency medical technicians and a van operator, Dell said.

The ambulance authority was incorporated in 1977 under the Internal Revenue Service Code as a nonprofit to serve McCandless and Franklin Park. It expanded two years later to add Bradford Woods, Marshall, and Pine Township, Dell said.

The ambulance authority’s main station is on Grubbs Road in McCandless with two other stations in Franklin Park and Pine Township.

Its costs are not always controllable. Dell estimates it doesn’t get paid for approximately 25 percent of calls.

“If we don’t transport (a patient), we don’t get paid,” Dell said.

In February alone there were 582 requests for services with 436 resulting in transport. Many times, crews go to a call and the person doesn’t want to go to the hospital. Or a paramedic or EMT provides medical care so the person doesn’t need to be transported.

There’s the ongoing “cost of readiness,” which means the authority must pay employees who on are on standby waiting for calls. Ambulances also respond to fires or accident scenes, some of which do not result in transport.

The MFPAA has provided 22 hours of community service so far this year, such as giving classes in cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

The authority just finished an annual subscription drive in February for McCandless and Franklin Park residents and a drive is scheduled in October for Bradford Woods, Marshall and Pine.

It is conducting “Project Be Prepared” to raise funds for a new ambulance. Contributions are tax deductible, Dell said.

The authority operates under the direction of a seven-member board, each serving five-year terms. Members are: Marcia Caliendo, Dr. Ankur Sona Puri, Dr. Tyler McCardell, Keith Hall, and William Youngblood, all of McCandless, and Dr. Thomas Stein and James Bonomo, of Franklin Park.

Caliendo, a board member for three years, is very pleased with how this past year is shaping up.

“We’ve got a good active board. We are doing what we need to do to be financially stable. Things are looking very optimistic,” Caliendo said.

As a way to boost morale and pride, two EMTs designed and painted a new mural for the authority near the entrance of the Grubbs station. Paramedic Mo Pittser of Shaler-Hampton EMS assisted McCandless-Franklin Park Ambulance Authority Paramedic/Crew Chief Stephanie Zentz with painting.

The mural depicts an ambulance, the service patch worn by MFPAA crews, as well as the Star of Life — a symbol used to identify emergency medical services.

“Silhouettes represent our crew members working together for one goal … delivering quality patient care through compassion and diligence. We are part of a team here at MFPAA and rely on each other to get the job done. The flag represents bravery, valor, honor, and integrity that is instilled in each of us to do this job,” Zentz said.