WellSpan Health and Waynesboro Area ALS have announced an agreement for a new operational model that will provide continuation of advanced life support services for southern Franklin County and create a seamless transition of ambulance services for the region. 

Effective October 15, 2022, the staff, equipment, and other assets of Waynesboro Area ALS will transition to become part of WellSpan EMS. Residents of southern Franklin County will continue to have access to emergency medical services through WellSpan EMS. The transition will also expand access to specialty care through WellSpan Health and the system's network of services throughout the region. 

"Emergency ambulance services and patient transport are essential to the continuum of care. WellSpan Health wants to ensure residents of Waynesboro and the surrounding communities will continue to have access to high quality emergency services whenever they are needed. We are pleased to have reached an agreement with Waynesboro Area ALS to guarantee the continuation of EMS services," said Dr. Michael Seim, senior vice president and chief quality officer, WellSpan Health.  

Currently, a large majority of Waynesboro Area ALS team members are already employed by WellSpan. Those staff members who are not currently employed by WellSpan will be given the opportunity to apply for employment by WellSpan as part of the new agreement. 

Since its formation in 1983, Waynesboro Area ALS has provided advanced life support services to communities in southern Franklin County that include Waynesboro, Greencastle, and Mercersburg. 

"Our board dedicated more than eight months to this effort and no decision was made lightly.  Every decision was made in the best interest of the communities which are currently served by Waynesboro Area ALS and Medic 2's highly trained professional paramedics. We look forward to WellSpan Health maintaining these critical services well into the future," said David Mackley, chairman, board of directors, Waynesboro Area ALS. 

Over the past decade the healthcare and ambulance services landscape has changed drastically. The COVID-19 pandemic has created unprecedented stress and strain on many aspects of healthcare, including local EMS providers. The pandemic has strained the revenue models of many ambulance services. The potential disruption or loss of services would be a significant hurdle to local communities. 

As the region's most comprehensive healthcare provider, WellSpan continues to support the development of sustainable local EMS services across its system of care and welcomes opportunities to engage with local providers to develop these efforts.