Commonwealth Health EMS Expands Lifesaving Services, Transportation

9/29/2014

SCRANTON, Pa. (Sept. 30, 2014) – Commonwealth Health Emergency Medical Services has announced it will be acquiring Community Life Support Systems in a transaction that will, once finalized, result in the combination of the two emergency medical service networks into the region’s largest and most advanced provider of basic and advanced lifesaving services and emergency transportation.

The proposed combination involves the sale of all of the Scranton-based Community Life Support Systems EMS operations, real estate and emergency vehicles to Commonwealth Health Emergency Medical Services, formerly Lackawanna/Wayne Ambulance. CLSS currently operates in both Lackawanna and Wyoming counties.

Community Life Support Systems’ 75 employees will join the 200-plus employees who are now working for Commonwealth Health Emergency Medical Services.

“By combining workforces, Commonwealth Health Emergency Medical Services will be able to strategically deploy ambulances for excellent emergency medical service and transportation to meet our community’s growing needs,” Timothy Rowland, CEO of Community Life Support Systems said. “This integration will ensure that dependable, high-quality EMS care is available in the entire region.”

Commonwealth Health intends to acquire the Community Life Support Systems’ 11 vehicles and its headquarters on Oakwood Drive in Scranton. The CLSS facility will be used as a training site and a Commonwealth Health Emergency Medical Services substation. CLSS will continue to provide pre-hospital education to regional EMS providers and CPR certification to the public, Rowland said.

“We are continuing to invest in resources to support a broad network of medical services,” Justin Davis, CEO of Commonwealth Health Moses Taylor Hospital and Commonwealth Health Emergency Medical Services, said. “Commonwealth Health is committed to serving our community with compassionate, quality care and hometown values.” 

Commonwealth Health Emergency Medical Services introduced the region’s first ground critical care transport units and a new neonatal intensive care unit this year. Commonwealth One, a critical care helicopter transport, began service on Sept. 23.

These vehicles will serve the more than 1.1 million people who live in the 11-county area of Northeastern Pennsylvania and other areas as requested.

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