19-05-2025
Grove City recruitment and retention event marks start of EMS Week
GROVE CITY, Pa. (WKBN) — Sunday marks the start of EMS Week. To kick off the week, a recruitment and retention event was held at Grove City High School.
EMT and paramedic positions aren't easy to fill — not just in Pennsylvania, but across the nation. That's why officials are encouraging those interested in the field to attend EMS recruitment and retention events.
'Any time somebody has an emergency, you will end up calling 911. You expect an ambulance to show up, right? That's what we need for public health and safety,' said Wendy Braund with the Pennsylvania Department of Health.
Pay, employee benefits and company budgets are a few of the reasons that make employee retention difficult. Some officials say education also needs to improve.
'There's a tremendous amount of mental health challenges among EMS providers because of the stress of what they do and the kind of patients they have to care for, who can be very sick, very injured,' Braund said.
'I think the education portion of it has improved here in Pennsylvania. Our Bureau of EMS has been doing great to work with. We're trying new things. They're getting people engaged in what's going on,' said Chief Doug Dick of Superior Ambulance Service.
In Gov. Josh Shapiro's proposed budget, an additional $6 million would go to the Emergency Medical Services Operating Fund, which is the state's source of funding for EMS.
'That money will go to our 13 regional councils, and through the councils, out to the EMS companies. So, we're hopeful that will go through in the budget,' Braund said.
A tuition reimbursement program was also announced Sunday, where those who have done EMS training can be reimbursed for their training, ranging from $300 up to $5,000. EMS companies can also apply for $5,000 to augment their recruitment and retention events.
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