SEVEN MOUNTAINS EMS COUNCIL
Seven Mountains EMS Council, Inc. is an independent non-profit corporation that is contracted through the Pennsylvania Department of Health to coordinate Emergency Medical Service (EMS) programs within a four-county area of Central Pennsylvania. The region encompasses the counties of Centre, Clinton, Juniata, and Mifflin.
Seven Mountains acts as the liaison between the Pennsylvania Department of Health and the Regional EMS providers on issues such as training, ambulance licensure, receiving-facility accreditation, medical command authorization, treatment and transfer protocols, mass casualty preparation and coordination, quality improvement, public education & information, data collection and complaint investigation. Council carries out these day-to-day duties with a staff of four - Executive Director, Administrative Assistant, Training Coordinator, and EMS Program Specialist.
The Council is comprised of 75 delegate organizations that represent emergency service organizations & providers; hospitals & other health related organizations; local governments and consumers within the four counties. Council delegates elect a Board of Director to oversee Council operations. The Board is comprised of nine members - two (2) each from organizations located within the member counties and one (1) representing organizations that cross county boundaries (i.e. American Red Cross, Emergency Nurses Association, & American Heart Association ECC). The current Board of Director are:
Christopher McCoy - Milroy Fire Company EMS (Mifflin County)
Term Expires: 10/2009
Clarence "Rusty" Blessard - Bucktail Medical Centre MICU (Clinton County)
Term Expires: 10/2009
Craig S. Wheeler - American Heart Association ECC
Term Expires: 10/2010
Gerard Banfill - Lock Haven EMS (Clinton County) Term Expires: 10/2010
J. David Jones - University Ambulance Service (Centre County) Term Expires: 10/2010
Jacqueline Leister - Juniata County Law Enforcement (Juniata County) Term Expires: 10/2009
John Shirk - Central Juniata EMS (Juniata County) Term Expires: 10/2010
Mick Abrashoff - FAME EMS (Mifflin County) Term Expires: 10/2010
S. Scott Rhoat - Bellefonte EMS (Centre County) Term Expires: 10/2009
At the Board of Director's reorganizational meeting - held after the annual Council meeting in October - the newly seated board elects its officers and sets its meeting schedule. The current officers are:
President: J David Jones
Vice President: S. Scott Rhoat
Secretary/Treasurer: Craig Wheeler
The following meeting schedule was established:
January 8, 2009
Mifflin County - FAME EMS
April 2, 2009
Juniata County - Central Juniata EMS
June 4, 2009
Clinton County - Lock Haven EMS
August 6, 2009
Centre County - Penn State University
October 1, 2009 Centre County - Annual Council meeting & Board reorganizational meeting
(Location: TBA)
All meetings begin at 7:00pm. Meeting location is where a majority of the delegates are expected to meet; But, Council plans on making participation through telephone/web conference available within each of the member counties. Contact the Council office or a Board member for additional information.
The Regional Medical Director, who advises the Council on medical issues, is Clifford J. Neal, D.O.