The Northeastern Berks Emergency Medical Service, Inc. invited the community to its Open House at 220 South Maple Street in Kutztown on May 6.
“Today is an Open House to celebrate a new organization,” said Doug Demchyk, president and Chief of Operations of Northeastern Berks EMS.
The process of creating the new EMS organization began in 2014. Northeastern Berks EMS began offering emergency medical services starting Feb. 19. “This is an official start-off welcome, introduce ourselves to the community.”
Northeastern Berks EMS is currently providing back-up EMS services for Kutztown Area Transport in Kutztown Borough and Maxatawny Township. Service areas also include Albany Township and parts of Greenwich Township and they are assisting Topton Ambulance, providing coverage to Topton Borough, Longwamp Township and parts of Maxatawny Township and Rockland Township.
“We started this organization up for the community. We wanted to put something in place that would be here for years to come. The benefits of starting a new organization is that we don’t have any of the baggage so we can start for today’s society and move forward and prepare for the future of EMS to come,” said Demchyk.
The Board of Directors plan are involved in the community through education and working with businesses and they are focused on their response operations, providing the best care to the community and its visitors, Demchyk said.
“Today is a very proud day for me. I put a lot of time and hard work into this. Today is the day I get to present it to the community, so I’m very excited,” Demchyk said.
The Open House included a tour of the EMS station and training facility, and up-close views of the two fully-equipped ambulance vehicles. A Lehigh Valley Health Network Med-Evac helicopter flew overhead and landed in the nearby parking lot. Also, there was also a ribbon cutting with the Northeast Berks Chamber of Commerce.
“The community will benefit from having additional emergency service personnel and paramedics to create a safer community,” said Northeast Berks Chamber Executive Director Lori B. Donofrio-Galley.
Northeastern Berks EMS is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit charitable organization that provides emergency medical and ambulance services 24/7. Demchyk said they welcome the public to stop in at any time. “Our house is always open.”
