Jeannette EMS shuts down after 63 years

Jeannette EMS announced that the ambulance service was shutting down Monday night after 63 years.

The department ceased operations at 7 p.m., citing poor reimbursement rates from insurance companies, according to a Facebook post on the service’s page. The post added that Jeannette EMS is “sadly not the first service to have this happen to us and we will unfortunately not be the last.”

They urged people to speak with their government representatives about formulating a better plan for EMS services.

A plan is in place for neighboring services to provide ambulance coverage for the time being until a more solidified plan is put in place, the department said.

Bud Mertz, Westmoreland County director of public safety, said the surrounding municipalities are aware of the situation.

“We just want to reassure everybody that if an emergency call comes in, the nearest ambulance service will be alerted,” Mertz said. “The City of Jeannette wants the nearest available ambulance to answer the call, and that’s what we’re trying to make happen. We’re working closely with the municipalities to make sure that this happens.”

Different ambulance services may respond, depending on where an emergency call comes from, Mertz said.

“On one side of the city we have Penn Township, and Mutual Aid is on the other side,” Mertz said. “It will just depend on who is closest to the call and who is available.”

Amy Highlands, Jeannette EMS station manager said that they do not have further comment.

Representatives from the Jeannette City Council, Penn Township Ambulance and Mutual Aid were not able to be reached over the July 4 holiday.