04/14/2025
Tinicum Township Police Department, Nockamixon Township Park & Recreation Committee Nockamixon State Park
Bedminster Twp., Bucks County, PA
Springfield Township of Bucks County
Haycock Township
Kimberton Whole Foods
Haycock Fire Company #1
Bucks County Herald Newspaper
Offcial Bridgeton Township
Riegelsville
Anthony Mills
Durham Township, Pennsylvania
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contacts:
Barbara Stebulis, Paramedic Chief
Upper Bucks Regional EMS
[email protected]
610-847-8801 x 701
Link to Dynamic Photos and Digital Media Kit:
Upper Bucks Regional EMS
Upper Bucks Regional EMS Urges Residents and Businesses to Save on Emergency Costs
Board President and Paramedic Chief share about the cost-effective nature of subscriptions when receiving lifesaving medical transport services in this region’s rural and remote areas.
[Bucks County & Revere, PA – APRIL 14, 2025] – When someone in Upper Bucks is injured miles from the nearest paved road or cell signal, Upper Bucks Regional EMS (UBREMS) is the medical team that shows up. For over 70 years, UPREMS has been a vital and trusted lifeline, providing advanced life support and emergency transport for nine Bucks County municipalities.
Serving a 112-square-mile region that includes Springfield, Bedminster, Tinicum, Nockamixon, and six other municipalities, UBREMS responds to over 1,600 calls annually across this landscape known for its beauty—and its challenging terrain. They are a trusted provider of emergency medical transport and care that serves more than 17,000 residents and another 45,000 through mutual aid to neighboring areas.
The UBREMS history of service, particularly with respect to rural and recreational rescue operations, has earned it a reputation as one of the most capable EMS teams in the region.
“The rural landscape our EMS team serves includes obstacles that other services might struggle to reach,” said Paramedic Chief Barbara Stebulis. “We regularly respond to incidents involving rock climbers at High Rocks Vista, lost hikers in state game lands, and injured boaters at Lake Nockamixon. It’s not unusual for our teams to hike into remote terrain with heavy equipment on their backs to reach someone in need.”
Like many EMS organizations across the country, UBREMS faces rising operational costs, declining insurance reimbursement rates, and staffing shortages. Despite these challenges, UBREMS continues to operate with a team of paid, highly trained staff across two stations—Springfield and Revere—without governmental funding.
“We’re funded very differently from the fire and police services,” said Anthony Mills, Board President and representative for Durham Township. “EMS organizations in Pennsylvania are not considered essential services and cannot rely on federal support. We must rely on a patchwork of funding sources—insurance reimbursements, municipal contributions, grants, donations, and subscriptions.”
He added that without community subscriptions, it’s difficult for an EMS agency to survive.
Currently, fewer than 15% of local households and businesses participate in the UBREMS subscription program. The April relaunch of the subscriptions outlines the valuable savings for subscribers—it reduces or eliminates out-of-pocket ambulance costs for subscribers, as well as playing a direct role in sustaining round-the-clock EMS coverage.
“Subscriptions are a lifeline for the community,” Mills emphasized. “Increasing subscription participation helps to stabilize our finances and ensure we continue providing the expert, timely care our community depends on. Every subscription helps us keep going, every dollar keeps a medic on the road.”
From winding backroads and dense woods to steep elevations and state parklands, UBREMS emergency staff is on the job when lifesaving medical transportation care is time sensitive.
“Our team shows up—day or night, in a snowstorm, in the woods, wherever we’re needed,” said Stebulis. “They’re calm under pressure, skilled in advanced life support, and experienced in responding to emergencies that happen far from paved roads or cell signals. We’re proud of what we do—but we can’t do it alone.”
A successful 2025 subscription campaign will help community residents and businesses offset the high costs of individuals who need medical transport while simultaneously ensuring that expert medical emergency coverage and staffing are available and ready across the region.
“Supporting your local EMS is a smart financial decision that helps offset medical transport costs, and it’s also a direct and meaningful way to make a difference in your community,” said Mills. “Our team is always here for you—and now you can be here for them.”
Anyone interested in an UBREMS subscription can subscribe, or consider a tax-deductible donation, at https://ubrems.org/subscribe. For information about program and sponsorship opportunities contact Barbara Stebulis, Paramedic Chief, at [email protected] or 610-847-8801 x 701.
About UBREMS
Upper Bucks Regional Emergency Medical Services (UBREMS) is a nationally accredited, nonprofit paramedic mobile intensive care unit licensed by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. For over 70 years, UBREMS has been a cornerstone of emergency medical care in the upper region of Bucks County, Pennsylvania. Initially operating under the name Riegelsville-Palisades EMS, Inc., the organization adopted its current name in 2003 as its territory expanded to include additional townships. UBREMS currently provides primary emergency medical response to 112 square miles of countryside that includes the rural communities of Durham, Nockamixon, Bridgeton, Haycock, Riegelsville, Richland, Springfield Township, Bedminster, and Tinicum. The team directly serves over 17,000 residents and assists in a shared coverage area containing an additional 45,000 people. This dedicated team answers over 1,600 emergency calls a year, navigating the unique challenges of a rural environment, including rough terrain, waterways, and unpaved roads, and demonstrating their unwavering commitment to the community.
Upper Bucks Regional EMS (UBREMS) offers annual subscription options tailored for individuals, households, and businesses, making it easy for everyone in our community to support life-saving emergency medical services. When you subscribe, any balance remaining after your insurance is billed for ambu...
