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Citizens' Ambulance Service
CAS
Organizational Information
Parent Organization
Ambulance Service Management Corporation
Vision, Mission and/or Purpose of Organization
To respond to all legitimate requests for care without regard to race, color, creed, national origin or ability to pay. To make safety a watchword while providing expeditious medical care and transport to all individuals. Each patient will be treated with compassion, respect and dignity. To donate service to individuals who demonstrate an inability to pay.
History of Organization
Citizens' Ambulance Service was established in 1964 as a non-profit corporation. It began operations in January of 1965 with only one ambulance, a 1964 Cadillac. The 12 member Executive Board is responsible for the operation of Citizens' Ambulance on behalf of its' 8,400 members. A 57 member advisory board meets annually and serves on committees. The present service area had two periods of expansion. In 1969, the boundaries were expanded from 10 to 15 miles In 1975, Indiana Hospital donated $75,000 to help expand the ambulance services further to a countywide service with the help of matching funds from a Highway Safety grant program. In 1984, S.W. Jack raised enough funds to build what now houses Citizens' biggest station and office. Today, Indiana County is the only county in PA with a single emergency ambulance service covering the entire county. Plumville station was built in 1978, Hillsdale in 1979, Armagh operation were housed in the local fire department building until 2005, when they were moved to a building build by the Clyde fire department in Wheatfield. The Elderton station was completed in April, 1999. There are a total of 6 stations with 12 ambulances. Mr. Jerry Esposito was the first manager for CAS. He developed a membership service for the ambulance company with the help of the Junior Women's Civic Club going door to door for solicitations. Cittzens'Ambulance first operated out of the home of Hazel Burnsworth on Wayne Avenue. She acted as a mother to the drivers and technicians. She and her son, Gary, answered most of the phone calls for the new company. Citizens' was one of the first ambulance companies to require certication for Emergency Medical Technicians, added direct radio communications between ambulances and the hospital emergency room, and set up working relationships with helicopter and other ambulance services. These dedicated college students were paid $2 each ambulance trip. The cost of the ambulances ran about $15000 compared to the current cost of $130,000. Citizens' was the first U.S A service to use vehicles that met the U.S. Department of Transportation proposed standards of vehicle design. Citizens' was the first PA service to successfully defibrillate a person in clinical death from a heart attack, and one of the first to dispatch a paramedic with every emergency call. In 1972, Citizens' was the first in the U.S. to start the Immediate Response Personnel program using trained volunteers to perform routine life-saving measures in the locality of the emergency. Citizens' was also involved with Dr. Nancy Caroline in developing training curriculum and standards for the crews. With Dr. Peter Safar, Mr. Esposito redesigned the ambulance to the shape and function that is known today.CAS service area is about 1000 square miles, with Advanced Life Support in all but one unit which functions as a Basic LIfe Support transport unit. There is a Transport Van Service with 8 vans. Citizen's Ambulance Service employs approximately 174 full and part time personnel.
Contact Information
Key Leader(s)
Contact Person(s)
Contact Number(s)
724.349.3480 - FAX
724.349.5527 - Medical Transport Service
800.655.2343 - Toll-free
877-349-5527 - Medical Transportation Service After Hours Page
724.349.5511
Contact Email(s)
rthomas@asmgt.com
Web Addresses
Primary Address
Additional Addresses
Service Information
Service Area
Indiana County and portions of surrounding counties
Service Description
24-Hour emergency medical services
Ambulance tours, emergency preparedness programs
Speakers for civic groups and schools
Medical Transport Service (rates for members and non-members; phone 724-349-5527)
Available Hours
Emergency personnel respond to medical emergencies 24 hours/day Business Office: 8:00 am - 4:00 pm / Monday through Friday Medical Transportation Service: 7:30 am - 4:00 pm / Monday through Friday (and anytime by appointment) After hours page - 877-349-5529
Fees/Cost for Services
Annual Ambulance Membership: Individual - $50, Family - $55, Senior Citizen Individual - $48, Senior Citizen Family - $53, Medical Transport Service - call 724-349-5527 for information
Eligibility Requirements
Need doctor referral for a medical ambulance transport (non-emergency)
Miscellaneous Information
Speaker Available
Yes
Volunteer Use
Yes
Volunteer Need
Yes
Volunteer Description
Membership assistance with mailings, special eventsi.e. 5k race, golf tournament, fairs and presentations at schools