Seneca EMS adds wheelchair van

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Seneca EMS adds wheelchair van

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By Tawnya Panizzi
Staff writer
Thursday, December 26, 2002


Seneca Area EMS is kicking off the new year by adding a service for patients with disabilities.

A new $35,000 wheelchair van was delivered Friday and will be on the road Jan. 1, according to Director Tony Cuda.

The van will afford Seneca the chance to transport patients who are wheelchair bound, something they had to refer to competitors in the past.

"We've been looking to do this for about two years," Cuda said. "We have about 900 patients a year that could use it and were forced to use surrounding services."

The van was included in this year's budget, which is funded by an annual subscription drive.

As an ambulance service, Seneca serves about 2,500 patients each year in Etna, Sharpsburg and Indiana Township.

The wheelchair van was added to the fleet as more of a service than a business move, Cuda said.

Financially, the wheelchair won't significantly boost revenue, he said.

"It's a break-even move," Cuda said. "It's not a business you go into to make a ton of money. It's just another service."

The van will serve patients who are confined to a wheelchair or have a difficult time moving from the chair to a vehicle.

Although it's equipped with some medical equipment like oxygen, it is not meant for emergencies.

Seneca will begin using the van on Jan. 1, giving volunteers enough time for training. Cuda said each person will be trained on how to lift patients and operate the mechanics that secure the chairs in the van.


Tawnya Panizzi can be reached at tpanizzi@tribweb.com or (412) 782-2192.

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