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First Posted: 10/1/2014 Commonwealth Health Emergency Medical Services announced it will acquire Community Life Support Systems in a transaction that will, once finalized, result in the combination of the two emergency medical service networks into the region&#8217;s largest and most advanced provider of basic and advanced lifesaving services and emergency transportation.
The proposed combination involves the sale of all of the Scranton-based Community Life Support Systems EMS operations, real estate and emergency vehicles to Commonwealth Health Emergency Medical Services, formerly Lackawanna/Wayne Ambulance. CLSS currently operates in both Lackawanna and Wyoming counties.
Community Life Support Systems&#8217; 75 employees will join the 200-plus employees who are now working for Commonwealth Health Emergency Medical Services.
&#8220;By combining work forces, Commonwealth Health Emergency Medical Services will be able to strategically deploy ambulances for excellent emergency medical service and transportation to meet our community&#8217;s growing needs,&#8221; Timothy Rowland, CEO of Community Life Support Systems said in a news release. &#8220;This integration will ensure that dependable, high-quality EMS care is available in the entire region.&#8221;
Commonwealth Health intends to acquire the Community Life Support Systems&#8217; 11 vehicles and its headquarters on Oakwood Drive in Scranton. The CLSS facility will be used as a training site and a Commonwealth Health Emergency Medical Services substation. CLSS will continue to provide pre-hospital education to regional EMS providers and CPR certification to the public.
&#8220;We are continuing to invest in resources to support a broad network of medical services,&#8221; Justin Davis, CEO of Commonwealth Health Moses Taylor Hospital and Commonwealth Health Emergency Medical Services, said in the release. &#8220;Commonwealth Health is committed to serving our community with compassionate, quality care and hometown values.&#8221;
Commonwealth Health Emergency Medical Services introduced the region&#8217;s first ground critical care transport units and a new neonatal intensive care unit this year. Commonwealth One, a critical care helicopter transport, began service Sept. 23.
These vehicles will serve the more than 1.1 million people who live in the 11-county area of Northeastern Pennsylvania and other areas as requested.

Commonwealth Health EMS expands lifesaving services, transportation