Health

Twitter

By J.R. Brower

A community open house was held on February 18 at Canonsburg Hospital to showcase the purchase of a brand new ambulance.

Posing for a photo alongside the new Canonsburg Ambulance Service vehicle is Canonsburg Hospital Chairman of the Board Joe Macerelli and Women’s Auxiliary members Carole Pankas, Andrea Yarkosky, Rose Szafraniec and Sharon Haramic.

Before the ambulance was unveiled, Canonsburg Hospital President and CEO Jane Sarra and local dignitaries thanked the hospital’s Women’s Auxiliary for supporting the purchase with a generous donation of $110,000. Sarra said that the auxiliary’s latest donation is just one of many cumulative gifts throughout the years to benefit Canonsburg Hospital which total over $2 million.

The donation funded the replacement of Canonsburg Ambulance Service’s oldest vehicle with a more modern and efficient model. It features a reinforced safety cage surrounding the patient transport compartment, LED lighting and other enhancements that will greatly reduce the fleet’s annual maintenance costs.

Receiving accolades from health care providers and local government officials was Canonsburg Hospital Women’s Auxiliary Chairwoman Carole Pankas. Sarra said that she is very grateful for the efforts of the Women’s Auxiliary, which has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for the benefit of the hospital since 1965.

Pankas herself has been on the Gift Committee for 21 years. The committee raises money through selling wares such as candy, snacks, get well gifts and jewelry. The hospital CEO also pointed out that the ladies of the Women’s Auxiliary have generously given a combined total of over 200,000 hours of time as volunteers over the last 10 years.

Also thanking the auxiliary with brief speeches before the new ambulance was shown were Washington County Commissioner Harlan Shober, State Representative Brandon Neuman, Allegheny Health Care Network VP Robert McCaughan and Canonsburg Mayor David Rhome.

Discussing the benefits and  features of the new Ambulance

Rep. Neuman said, “This gift of $110 thousand signifies what community care is in Canonsburg, which has good schools and a great health care system.”
Mayor Rhome, who is also a first responder, said “The new ambulance will make our hospital and community a safer place.”

Canonsburg Ambulance Service makes 4,500 emergency calls and non-emergency patient transports each year. Two of its four ambulances were replaced in 2015, so the addition of the new ambulance will almost completely modernize their fleet.

In the photo at right:Celebrating the unveiling of the new ambulance were (l-r) Canonsburg Hospital CEO Jane Sarra; Women’s Auxiliary Chairwoman Carole Pankas; State Representative Brandon Neuman; Allegheny Health Network VP Robert McCaughan; Washington County Commissioner Harlan Shober; and Canonsburg Mayor David Rhome.