Pike County Commissioners receive recognition for EMS Award

Pike County commissioners Matthew Osterberg and Ronald Schmalzle recently accepted citations from State Senator Lisa Baker (R-20) and Representative Jeff Olsommer (R-139) for earning the Dr. George Moerkirk Memorial Contribution to EMS Award.

The Dr. George Moerkirk Memorial Contribution to EMS Award recognizes an individual or organization who has provided a significant contribution to the Pennsylvania EMS system. The Commissioners received this distinction for their EMS Matching Grant Program, which provides Pike County municipalities with a sustainable funding stream to support local EMS agencies with staffing, training, and equipment, by combining municipal funding with a match of County dollars. More than $4 million has been made available to support County EMS agencies annually, through the Pike County EMS Matching Grant Fund Program.

When presenting the award at the June 5, 2024 Pike County Commissioners’ meeting, Anthony Martin, director of the Bureau of EMS for the Pennsylvania Department of Health said, “In place of EMS agencies closing their doors, as is occurring in many areas in the state, Pike County EMS agencies are seeing improvement in all categories of need. Most importantly, Pike County residents are seeing an improvement in emergency medical services availability and care delivery.”

In an announcement, commissioners Osterberg and Schmalzle acknowledged all commissioners “whose work has contributed to the success of the EMS Matching Grant Program, including former commissioners Steve Guccini and Tony Waldron, and current Commissioner Christa Caceres, who all actively supported this pivotal program which assists countywide EMS services.”