QRS to merge with York County EMS

The Columbia Quick Response Service has been serving the borough since it was formed out of need back when Lancaster General Hospital closed the former Columbia Hospital back in 2003.

Now the QRS is looking to lend a helping hand to another organization that needs help.

 Monday, Frank Splain, Jr., the executive director of the QRS, said at the council meeting, the Columbia organization will be merging with the Eastern York County Emergency Medical Service.

 “We are working on an agreement to assist them with staffing,” Splain said.

 Because of the pending merger, which could happen in a few months, Splain said the QRS is pulling out of consolidation talks in Columbia with the three fire departments.

 The EMS merger, Splain said, will not affect QRS activity in the borough.

 “The ambulance service was ready to be shutdown,” Splain said.

 “The QRS is our priority and when we can, we will staff their ambulance out of Columbia,” he said.

 “Eastern York will donate their transport money to the QRS and will give us monthly revenue,” Splain said.

 “We are pretty excited about this,” he said.