State takes Renovo EMS operation out of service

RENOVO, PA – The state Health Department, as of Monday, has taken the Renovo Fire Company’s EMS operation out of service, so far, no reason given. That action was confirmed Tuesday by Tim Nielson, executive director of the Seven Mountains EMS Council. He told The Record he received a call from the Health Department to notify the Renovo company that its ALS (advanced life services) and BLS (basic life services) are out of service.

Nielson termed word of the shutdown “unfortunate” and said he did not know why the state took the action it did. A Record call to the state agency was not immediately returned.

Nielson did say there are other ambulance services authorized to respond to Renovo calls. These include the Bucktail Medical Center, Cross Forks, Lock Haven, Flemington, Beech Creek and Snow Shoe. He said Lock Haven and Flemington both offer ALS and BLS service, the others BLS service.

The Renovo (Station #29) EMS shutdown comes as the Bucktail Medical Center in South Renovo continues to add to its offerings.

BMC Administrator/CEO Tim Reeves, contacted by The Record on Tuesday, said he learned late Monday afternoon that Station 29 (Renovo) was out of service for both ALS and BLS and also Quick Response Service (QRS). He said he was unaware of the details of the state directive.

Meanwhile, Reeves reported, the BMC ambulance is in service with 24/7 coverage. “We are currently first due for Basic Life Support (BLS) 911 calls in Renovo Borough and Chapman Township. We will soon be first due in Noyes Township.”

Reeves said he has reached out to the Clinton County Department of Emergency Services “to let them know we are available to help any way we can.”

And the BMC CEO also gave an update on services at the South Renovo facility: “We have taken delivery of the new ambulance, the lettering and decals soon to be completed.”

“We have signed a two-year lease agreement and made the first payment for a mobile CT Scanner. The unit will be on campus 24/7. I expect the unit to be in place by the end of September 2023. I believe these two advances (ambulance and CT) are the next critical steps in securing the medical center’s future.”

The BMC administrator said there will be a public meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 5 at the Chapman Township Fire Hall at 7 p.m. Topics for discussion will be ambulance service, the CT scanner, and how patient volume needs to be increased at the medical center to maintain its viability.