Ambulance companies say they’re struggling to recruit workers

(Harrisburg) — Leaders in a critical piece of the health care system are struggling to find people to fill jobs: ambulance companies are concerned about the future.

In Perry County, the chief of operations at one says it’s a crisis situation.

And it’s not just rural areas feeling the strain.

Barry Albertson with PinnacleHealth’s Community LifeTeam in Harrisburg says working as a paramedic or EMT can be stressful — noting people can make more in other parts of the health care system.

He calls the current setup a band aid for a hemmorage.

“Everybody’s covering for everybody else. If one community doesn’t have an ambulance or it’s delayed, and you’re getting one from another community, then the second community, now if somebody calls, they’re going to wait for some other community to come in. It’s a snowball effect,” says Albertson.

Albertson says Medicaid and Medicare reimbursements don’t cover costs for ambulance companies, and most ambulance trips are paid for by the two government programs.

“Yeah, you call 911, but you may have a longer response time. You may be in a community where the ambulance service is struggling to get volunteers during the day and you’re waiting for somebody from another community,” he adds.

He says they’ve had to also turn to membership programs and fundraisers, which can also scare away potential employees.

EMTs typically starts at up to $14 an hour, while paramedics might have a beginning salary of up to $19 an hour.