Nov. 28--MOUNT CARMEL -- Just more than a month since joining American Hose Ambulance Company, the group's new employees have seen an increase in call volume and experienced a growing sense of camaraderie.

Gene Culp, American Hose paramedic coordinator, said he thinks the new employees which were hired through Hazelton-based Tech Transport, many of which are local, are taking the rap for recent accusations made by former employees of American Hose and others.

The accusations, recently levied at American Hose Chairwoman Thea Tafner at a Mount Carmel Borough Council meeting, allude to calls from creditors, critical supplies not ordered, confusion about company ownership, a lack of communication with employees and equipment neglect.

Though Culp admits the station at Sixth and Vine streets was in disarray and the ambulances were less than immaculate, all issues have been corrected, he said while showing off a pristine ambulance and an organized supply cabinet.

"We are being accused of things the past staff did," Culp said.

The accusations followed Shamokin Area Community Hospital's filing of a lawsuit against American Hose and Tafner earlier this month. The lawsuit claims the association owes the hospital a "substantial" amount of money.

The suit has nothing to do with the daily operation at American, Culp said.

"The past is the past," he added.

Last month, the ambulance association's contract for Advanced Life Support (ALS) service with the hospital expired, and was not renewed by SACH. Shortly after that, the hospital filed its lawsuit.

The lack of employees, which SACH provided through the contract, prompted the ambulance company to hire Tech Transport so it could continue as an ALS provider for Mount Carmel and surrounding communities.

According to Tafner, the state of the station prior to the coordination with Tech Transport may have been caused by disgruntled employees who ultimately left American Hose.

Not only is the equipment in better shape, but American's service hours have been extended, she said. A Basic Life Support ambulance was formerly staffed eight hours per day, five days per week. Now, the ambulance is staffed 12 hours per day, seven days per week.

Culp said this increase in service will continue and the company may add an additional ALS ambulance in the future. The company now has 35 full- and part-time employees at its disposal instead of the 11 the company formerly employed, Tafner said.

She said the transition from its former operation has been smooth.

"There is a new sense of pride and that is what is all about," Tafner said.