25th Anniversary Podcast

COVID-19 Vaccine

Lancaster EMS is following the prescribed COVID-19 distribution phases.

If you are eligible for ‘Phase 1A’ (see below for requirements), and are interested in receiving the vaccine from Lancaster EMS, please fill out the form on our COVID Vaccine sign-up page.

Currently the State is in ‘Phase 1A’ which requires providers to offer the vaccine to:

Long-term care facility residents
Health care personnel including, but not limited to:

Emergency medical service personnel
Nurses
Nursing assistants
Physicians
Dentists
Dental hygienists
Chiropractors
Therapists
Phlebotomists
Pharmacists
Technicians
Pharmacy technicians
Health professions students and trainees
Direct support professionals
Clinical personnel in school settings or correctional facilities
Contractual HCP not directly employed by the health care facility

Persons not directly involved in patient care but potentially exposed to infectious material that can transmit disease among or from health care personnel and patients

More regarding ‘Phase Levels’ can be found here: https://www.health.pa.gov/topics/disease/coronavirus/Pages/Vaccine.aspx

When additional phases are opened by the State Lancaster EMS is planning to make limited vaccines available within our resource capabilities. While Lancaster EMS will do everything within our resources (and within the State guidelines) we cannot guarantee a vaccine. If you do sign up with us we also recommend that you also seek out other resources.

Welcome to Lancaster EMS

Lancaster EMS is a premier, nationally accredited ambulance service located in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. Our diverse emergency response district serves over 260,000 residents in 21 municipalities encompassing urban, suburban, and rural portions of Lancaster County. Included within our primary response districts are numerous tourist attractions, industries, businesses, colleges and universities.

As the busiest EMS provider in Lancaster County, Lancaster EMS answered over 39,000 requests for service in 2020 from our 11 ambulance station locations. We provide advanced life support (ALS), basic life support (BLS), quick response service (QRS), wheelchair van, paratransit, mental health sedan, and specialty transportation services. In addition to transportation services, Lancaster EMS offers medical standby coverage at sporting and mass gathering events, mobile integrated healthcare community paramedicine, and participation with the Lancaster County SERT team and South Central Task Force.

Lancaster EMS, in partnership with the Pennsylvania College of Health Sciences, conducts Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) and Paramedic training programs. As an American Heart Association (AHA) Training Center, Lancaster EMS serves as a trainer and facilitator for many of the courses offered by the AHA for both healthcare providers and the general public. Through continual training in our educational institute, Lancaster EMS employees and volunteers are able to administer high quality, skillful pre-hospital care and transportation to those residents and visitors in our community.

"Lancaster EMS came to my apartment following my 911 call. My eighteen month old son suffered a seizure. Lancaster EMS calmed me down and reassured me that things would be okay. Thank you for being kind, professional and taking control of the situation. It takes a very special someone to do the great job that you do! My son is doing well and I can’t thank you enough."

"Our daughter came down from bed unable to breathe due to an asthma attack. You responded to our 911 call and were monitoring her health and giving us medical advice within minutes. Your presence, calm and in control, made us feel safe. We are grateful to have you in our community and relieved to know you respond so quickly."

Become a Member of Lancaster EMS

Our 2021 Membership Drive is Underway!

Enjoy the benefits of membership

Lancaster EMS will respond to over 40,000 requests for service in 2021. Our highly-trained EMTs and Paramedics continually meet the needs of our residents that we proudly serve 24 hours each day. Signing up for a membership will save you money in case you need to be transported by ambulance or if you use our non-emergency transportation services. You'll also be supporting your local first responders! For more details on the benefits you will be entitled to as a member, or to sign up using our flyer or our online form, click here!

"We would like to express our heartfelt thanks for the phenomenal care you provided that helped my husband survive a heart attack. He is doing miraculously well and for that we are extremely grateful! Keep up the great work! You are all amazing!"

"Just a note to thank you for saving my life. I had a heart attack; a real bad one. I didn’t know what was happening other than the terrible pain in my chest. My son called 911 for an ambulance and you were here in a short time. After three days in the hospital, I am back home again doing fine."

Lancaster EMS and Schreiber Pediatric: Sensory Prepared!

We have partnered with Schreiber Pediatric to become the first EMS Agency in Lancaster County to equip 30 of our front-line ambulances with sensory bags. Our providers can use these sensory bags on calls to help children with autism or other behavioral or anxiety issues feel more relaxed.

“In those situations, kids can be so overstimulated and they aren’t able to say what’s upsetting them,” said Saranika ... “And in too many cases an EMS Provider might not know how to calm them down.”

She decided to push for change.

Check out Schreiber Pediatric's press release for more of the story, and look for the "Sensory Prepared" sticker on Lancaster EMS ambulances!

Nate Shorter, Lancaster EMS Paramedic, Named 2020 Paramedic of the Year

Nate Shorter, who started at Lancaster EMS in 2010 as a Volunteer EMT, holds the plaque awarded to him by the PA DoH. To his right are Jerry Schramm, Director of Operations (Lancaster EMS), and Dr. Mike Reihart, Medical Director (Lancaster EMS). To his left is Bob May, Executive Director (Lancaster EMS).

Congratulations, Nate, on this prestigious achievement!

Each year, the Pennsylvania Department of Health, Bureau of Emergency Medical Services, with the assistance of the Pennsylvania Emergency Health Services Council (PEHSC) recognizes individuals, groups, and organizations that have made a significant contribution to Pennsylvania’s EMS System.

For 2020, Nate Shorter has been named ALS Practitioner of the Year.

"The amount of people and EMS providers that Nate has impacted directly and indirectly is incredible and immeasurable. Nate is an outstanding clinician and role model. Nate is engaged, aggressive in his treatment modalities and progressive. Nate’s personality is a perfect fit for EMS providers as he is down to earth, pleasant, positive, and is warm and genuine. Nate works to improve the EMS system and each provider he engages. I do not believe Nate started this journey to leave a legacy, however, his work, his ethics, and the ability to meet people where they are has left a legacy that will not soon be forgotten. EMS needs a lot more Nathan Shorters"

Cpt. Joe Carr, Lancaster EMS