Two Ambulance Agencies That Serve The North Penn & Indian Valley Region Have Partnered

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, PA — Two ambulance companies that serve portions of central and western Montgomery County have announced a partnership to benefit the greater community.

Volunteer Medical Service Corps. of Lansdale and Souderton Community Ambulance say they have entered into a partnership with one another with the goal being to enhance emergency medical services in the North Penn and Indian Valley communities.

"Ensuring we have adequate EMS coverage and response is at the core of our objectives and mission at both VMSC and SCAA," Shane Wheeler, of Volunteer Medical Service Corps., and Jim Throop, of Souderton Community Ambulance, said in a joint statement. "This new collaboration will allow our departments to better care for those in need in both North Penn and the Indian Valley areas."

The partnership was set to be official as of April 1.

The two companies said that the partnership should help improve their respective response times to calls and that all communities served by the agencies will be better served under the new pact.

"Safeguarding our communities is of the utmost importance to Souderton Community Ambulance Association (SCAA) and Volunteer Medical Service Corps. of Lansdale (VMSC)," the organizations said in a joint statement. "Ensuring adequate EMS coverage and response is at the core of our objectives and mission."

According to the two groups, on April 1, VMSC began co-locating an ambulance with SCCAA in Souderton, a move crafted to augment existing SCAA teams in the delivery of EMS services to the region.

"This additional ambulance will strengthen capability and improve response times for both agencies," they said in their statement. "VMSC and SCAA are excited at this new partnership and look forward to better serving both the North Penn and Indian Valley areas."

The two agencies said the partnership decision comes about after staffing issues have plagued EMS systems throughout the nation over the past few years.

"For EMS systems to tackle the core issues impacting EMS locally and nationally, systems must think creatively and collaboratively to meet community needs," the joint statement read. "This collaboration is a step forward in addressing the crisis facing many communities across our country."