Allegheny Health Network (AHN) announced that AHN Wexford Hospital has received a $182,500 grant from the Highmark Foundation. This funding aims to support local Emergency Medical Services (EMS) agencies in Allegheny, Beaver, and Butler counties.
The grant will be used by AHN Wexford Hospital and AHN Prehospital Care Services to purchase and donate essential equipment to several EMS agencies located north of Pittsburgh. It will also provide opportunities for continued training and education for EMTs.
Representatives from various EMS agencies gathered at the hospital’s campus to receive items such as advanced IV infusion pumps, intraosseous drills, advanced video laryngoscopes, nitrous oxide systems, and more. These donations address financial challenges faced by EMS organizations in acquiring necessary equipment due to limited funding.
“AHN Wexford Hospital is incredibly thankful for the Highmark Foundation’s partnership in supporting our local EMS agencies,” said Allan Klapper, MD, president of AHN Wexford. “First responders are the front line of community health, and this initiative supports them in providing vital, high-quality interventions which can lead to better outcomes for our patients.”
The grant will further enhance emergency care services by supporting advanced training and education through access to conferences, symposiums, and specialized programming.
Since opening in 2021, AHN Wexford Hospital has shown commitment to local EMS agencies with initiatives like the community-based paramedic response unit (PRU). The PRU collaborates with regional EMS agencies in Allegheny, Beaver, and Butler counties to provide general assistance when additional supportive care is needed.
“At the Highmark Foundation, we believe everyone deserves access to the highest quality health care programs and services,” said Kenya T. Boswell, senior vice president of Community Affairs at Highmark Health and president of the Highmark Foundation. “We are proud to support AHN Wexford and AHN Prehospital Care Services to help ensure that our local EMS agencies have the resources they need to provide timely, effective emergency medicine to our neighbors living north of Pittsburgh.”
AHN Prehospital Care Services includes physician-led EMS medical direction among other services such as mobile integrated health and critical care transport via LifeFlight.
