To be recognized as a Licensed EMS Agency in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, services must adhere to Department of Health requirements promulgated by the EMS Act 37.  EMS Agencies are required to maintain standards related to staffing, response, equipment, quality assurance, and data collection.

EMS Agencies are also required to submit an on-line application for Licensure to the Regional EMS Council for where the service will be headquartered.  Ambulance Licensure is valid for three years and may be renewed any time during the last 6 months of the current license.

EMS Agencies without reliable Internet Connection or who wish to have staff assistance in completing the on-line application may make prior arrangements to the LTS Regional EMS Field Coordinator, to complete the application in the Council office, 570/433-4461. 

To download ambulance licensure documents, click below:

SAMPLE Licensure Policies for new regulations

Inspection Checklists:  as of JULY 1, 2025

• Rotocraft Inspection Checklist 
• Transport Ambulance Inspection Checklist 
• Squad Inspection Checklist 
• QRS Inspection Checklist 
• Administrative Inspection Checklist 
• Agency Attestation Statement 
• Agency Medical Director Verification 
• Ambulance Manufacturers Division (AMD) Standards
• EMS Agency Required Equipment List (01/27/2024)

DOH Ambulance Accident & Personal Injury Reporting Form (To be completed with 24 hours of incident.  Fatalities involving EMS Providers must be reported to the Council within 8 hours.  If fatality does not occur during regular business hours, please page Council Director William Miller at 570-433-4461).

RELICENSING YOUR AMBULANCE ON-LINE

The Pennsylvania Department of Health (Department), through the Bureau of Emergency Medical Services, has replaced the paper application process with a user-friendly electronic process component that will expedite Department action on an application for an initial license, or a renewal or amendment of an existing license.  The resulting database will assist the Bureau of EMS in providing timely information for emergency preparedness and funding reasons as well.

The new process for submitting a license renewal application will be as follows:

Process Requirements:

1. Service must have Internet access.
2. Service must have an e-mail address. (Contact your regional EMS council if your service does not have access to a computer or the Internet.)

Process Steps:

1. Registration:
   • Log onto the web address https://ems.health.pa.gov/registry
   • When you open this web page click the “Click here to begin” link.
   • On the next page click the “Continue” link.  You may have to scroll down a little bit.  The next page is your login and here you will need to register an account.
   • Click the “Register” button and fill out the appropriate information. (Make sure you safeguard and secure the log-on information).
   • Once you are finished, click the “Sign Up” button.  This will return you to the login screen
2. Log In:
   • Here you will login using the user ID and password that you just created.
   • Follow the directions and click on the “Help Me” link throughout the application for any assistance.
   • If at any time you need assistance, please contact Regional EMS Field Coordinator  at 570-433-4461.
3. License Registration:

• • Complete each section of the electronic version of the application form and provide the information required.  Required information is noted by an * next to the part of the application form soliciting information.  You cannot proceed to the next section of the application form until you have provided information where it is required in the section you are completing.  If you are unsure of what information is being requested, click on “Help Me” for specific instructions.
  • Another feature built into the process allows you to complete parts of the form and save your work so that, if the connection is lost or for some other reason you do not complete the form at a single sitting, you can return to where you were in the process before you stopped.  Any information entered will automatically be saved and you can simply log back on and pick up the process where you left off.
  • Once the form is completed, click “Finish.”  When that is done, you and the regional EMS council will automatically receive an e-mail message along with a verification number that the form has been sent to the regional EMS council where the service maintains its administrative headquarters.  If the service operates ambulances out of locations in multiple EMS regions, the regional EMS council will transmit the application to the other regional EMS council(s) for review.  The regional EMS council(s) will provide any comments back to the regional EMS council to which the form was submitted.

For more information contact:

• Name:VACANT
• Title:Regional EMS Field Coordinator
• Office:LTS EMS Council
• Email:      
• Voice:570-433-4461
• Fax:570-433-4435

LTS REGIONAL CQI PROGRAM

Please note that the LTS Regional CQI Committee meets

concurrently with the LTS EMS Advisory Board.

LTS REGIONAL EMS COUNCIL

CONTINUING QUALITY IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM

GOAL:

• To review and collectively evaluate structure, process and outcome of clinical and operational protocols or aspect of care in Lycoming, Tioga and Sullivan Counties as promulgated by Act 45 and the Pennsylvania Department of Health Division of EMS Systems as related to Quality Assurance.

STRUCTURE:

• Each EMS service will secure representation on a county CQI committee for Lycoming, Tioga, and Sullivan Counties.  The Regional CQI Committee will be comprised collectively of the county CQI committees in cooperation with Regional EMS Council staff.
• Each county CQI committee and the regional CQI committee will be guided by a chairman to address pertinent issues within the EMS community.
• Each county committee and the Regional CQI Committee will meet on a quarterly basis.

QUARTERS shall be defined as:

Each EMS service CQI representative will be responsible to submit a written report outlining ONE result of their service evaluation. Effective Q3- starting July 1, 2024 - the Council will be submitting CQI for ALL BLS Volunteer Agencies for all AOC's, on top of your submitted report. Reports will be submitted on preprinted forms distributed by the regional council and will include the following data:

Upon receipt of quarterly service reports, the LTS Regional EMS Council will compile data received and report back to CQI committees with data findings.  Reports will not identify individual service names and data.

Examples of Important Tripsheet Review Criteria

1. Prompt and safe response to correct address when dispatched.
2. Equipment working properly and unit completely restocked.
3. Proper initial patient assessment performed.
4. Quarterly, the Regional CQI committee will advise EMS Agencies of their recommendations for topics to be evaluated.  In addition, the regional field coordinator will provide the evaluation criteria at the beginning of each quarter.  If no calls during the quarter fall under the recommended topics, Agencies may elect to choose an alternate review criteria based on the PA EMS Protocols: Links below:
   • BLS Protocols:  Department of Health 2023 Protocols - BLS ​
   • AEMT Protocols: Department of Health 2023 Protocols - AEMT 
   • ALS Protocols:  Department of Health 2023 Protocols - ALS 
   • Critical Care Protocols: Department of Health 2019 Protocols - Critical Care
5. Communications with medical commanders available and used when indicated.
6. Assessment and treatment is performed in expedient manner consistent with urgency of situation.
7. Medical commanders follow approved treatment protocols or regional aspects of care.
8. Receiving physician is given adequate and timely information on pre-hospital assessment/treatment.
9. Management of high-risk situations (DOA, CPR, and multiple traumas) is routinely reviewed for efficiency of care.
10. Patients are assessed en route and changed in patient’s condition are communicated and/or documented appropriately.
11. Complete and accurate documentation and patient data is recorded on Trip sheet for each call.

Click HERE to download the CQI Quarterly Reporting Form.

Currently, the 2024 Aspects of Care recommended for evaluation are:

• ALS Cardiac Arrest
• BLS Cardiac Arrest
• Patient Refusals
• Patient Assisted Medications
• Spinal Immobilization

CQI IS REQUIRED FOR EPI-PEN ADMINISTRATION (FOR SERVICES THAT ARE RECOGNIZED EPI-PEN SERVICES)

Other Aspects of Care to be Considered:

AED Usage
Patient Assisted Medications
Patient Refusals
Spinal Immobilization
Seizures
Altered Level of Consciousness
Breathing Difficulty
Non-Traumatic Chest Pain
CPAP
Glucago
VN Nebulizer

ALS ONLY: 

Etomidate Usage (100% Chart Review)
SAI
Open Fracture
Ketamine

For more information contact:

• Name:VACANT
• Title:Regional EMS Field Coordinator
• Office:LTS EMS COUNCIL
• Email:      
• Voice:570-433-4461
• Fax:570-433-4435

Data Collection

Pursuant to the Rules & Regulations promulgating the EMS System Act of Pennsylvania, "§ 1021.41. EMS agencies shall collect, maintain and electronically report complete, accurate and reliable patient data and other information as solicited on the EMS PCR form for calls for assistance in the format prescribed by the Department. An EMS agency shall file the report for calls to which it responds that result in EMS being provided.  The report shall be made by completing an EMS PCR within the time prescribed by the EMS agency’s written policies, no later than 72 hours after the EMS agency concludes patient care, and then submitting it, within 30 days, to the regional EMS council that is assigned responsibilities for the region in which the EMS agency is licensed.” 

Below are some answers to commonly asked questions related to Data Collection:

I'm a BLS Service, must I forward a copy of the tripsheet (patient care report) to the receiving facility, even if ALS is on board?

The EMS agency shall provide the completed EMS PCR to the receiving facility to which the patient was transported within 72 hoursafter the EMS agency concluded patient care."

• Williamsport Hospital & Medical Center - 570-321-2265 (Please note this is a NEW #)
• Muncy Valley Hospital - 570-546-4138
• Jersey Shore Hospital - 570-398-1850
• Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Hospital - 570-724-6541
• Evangelical Community Hospital - 570-522-4740
• Geisinger Medical Center - 570-271-7165  (Please note corrected #) Can also email to secure address: PCRTRAUMA@geisinger.edu 
• Bloomsburg Hospital - 570-387-2245
• Memorial Hospital (Towanda) - 570-268-2244
• Robert Packer Hospital - 570-887-4939
• Troy Hospital - 570-297-3106
• Lock Haven Hospital - 570-893-5023 

This is required of all EMS Agencies completing a patient care report, ALS, BLS, or Helicopter. The tripsheet then becomes a part of a patient's permanent medical record.

What if a helicopter transports my patient?

The same requirement exists to provide a copy of the tripsheet to the facility who ultimately receives your patient.  Below are the fax numbers to the most frequently utilized aircraft by LTS Providers:

• Geisinger Medical Center (LifeFlight)  -  570-271-7165  (Affiliate #47700)
• Robert Packer Hospital  (Guthrie Air)  -  570-882-4939   (Affiliate #08013)
• Hershey Medical Center (LifeLion)      -  717-531-3878    (Affiliate#22091)

How long must I keep copies of patient care reports?

The ambulance service shall retain a copy of the EMS patient care report for a minimum of 7 years."

As a CQI coordinator for my service I notice that documentation on patient care reports could be improved.  Any hints??

The LTS EMS Council staff is also available to provide on-site support for documentation.  Please contact the council to schedule a training session.  Invite your neighboring companies!  Con.ed. credit may be available.

What must be included in a Patient Refusal??

A complete patient assessment should be completed on all patients who wish to refuse treatment/transport.  The LTS EMS Council provides Patient Refusal forms free of charge for all services in Lycoming, Tioga, and Sullivan Counties. Form should be completed on all patients refusing treatment and signed by the patient.  Remember, medical command should be contacted in certain circumstances (outlined on the form) and in those cases where patients may wish to refuse and the EMS Crew does not believe it is in the patient's best interest to do so, you can have medical command speak directly to the patient.   (See PA Protocol #111 - Refusal of Treatment/Transport.)

abbreviations should have a line above the character or abbreviation

For more information contact:

• Name:VACANT
• Title:Regional EMS Field Coordinator
• Office:LTS EMS Council
• Email:
• Voice:570-433-4461
• Fax:570-433-4435