Subscriptions to the Schaefferstown Emergency Medical Services (hereafter
know as "SEMS") includes the head of the household, spouse
and any person 18 years of age and any dependant residing with the member.
Subscription with SEMS means that SEMS will forego, or "write-off"
the cost difference between the actual cost of the emergency transport
and the total payment received from your insurance company. A
subscription to SEMS DOES NOT provide you with any "free" services.
Persons entitled to this service shall not have any rights or causes of
action because of any delay or tardiness or availability of SEMS unit.
Subscription to SEMS may cover services rendered by another ambulance
from outside of SEMS service area. Service
area includes Heidelberg Township and a small section of South Lebanon
Township. In any given emergency situation, the patients Medicare, Health
or Auto insurance will be billed. The carrier pays a certain percentage
of the charges and the policyholder or patient pays the balance. As
sated above, if
the policyholder or patient has a current subscription with SEMS, SEMS
will disregard the balance due.
By law there is a criteria, or steps that Emergency Dispatchers (911)
must follow when dispatching and ambulance, medics, fire apparatus,
etc form information given them through the 911 call. The criteria for
Advanced Life Support, ALS (Medic 12) response along with BLS, Basic
Life Support, the ambulance, is as follows: Severe or uncontrolled
bleeding; Rectal bleeding; Severe burns; Cardiac related problems -
chest pains, cardiac arrest, congestive heart failure, Pacemaker malfunctions; Diabetic
problems; Allergic reactions; Trauma - farm accidents, fall victims,
construction accidents - ladder, steps, stairs, etc; Poisoning; Overdose;
Spinal cord injuries; Seizures; Convulsions; Unconsciousness; Fainting;
Drowning; Multiple victim incidents of 6 or more; Entrapment - Vehicle,
Building, Cave-in; Farm rescue; Pregnancy; MVA involving bicycle, Pedestrians,
Motorcycles; Unknown medical emergencies; Person down. If the situation
requires ALS, a paramedic will assist the ambulance unit with advanced
prehospital care. This advance prehospital care is an additional
charge. Services provided to you are subject to the terms of SEMS subscription
program.
