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Paramedic Ambulance Contractor

The current ambulance contractor, American Medical Response Northwest is an Oregon corporation wholly owned by American Medical Response Inc. American Medical Response Inc. is a national that is currently owned by Onex Corporation.

American Medical Response Northwest (AMR) was awarded the franchise contract by Clark County Emergency Medical Services (EMS) District #2 in 1992 (AMR was then known as Buck Medical Services), in 1995, and most recently 2004. In 1996, this contract converted from just 9-1-1 ambulance service to both 9-1-1 and non-emergency ambulance service. The length of the contract is for six years with the potential to earn three two-year extensions.

Quality assurance oversight

Each AMR ambulance is paramedic staffed and is equipped to provide advanced life support. Paramedic ambulances provide the highest level of care under sophisticated guidelines and oversight by the County’s Medical Program Director.

  • Paramedic ambulances must respond within seven minutes and 59 seconds at least 90 percent of the time in the District’s urban area.

  • Paramedics have extensive training and certification in areas including Advanced Cardiac Life Support, Pediatric Advanced Life Support, and Trauma Life Support.

  • Paramedics use state of art cardiac monitors and defibrillators, advanced airway equipment, and intravenous lines and medications to care for their patients.

  • AMR ambulances provide service to all in need. It does so on a self-supporting basis through user fees only. There is no taxpayer or government subsidy.

Outstanding EMD credentials

CRESA's 9-1-1 center is considered a leader in the Emergency Medical Dispatch field. CRESA was one of the first agencies in the nation to meet the stringent requirements to be designated as an Accredited Center of Excellence. CRESA is currently engaged in the lengthy reaccreditation process.

CRESA’s dispatchers continuously receive specialized emergency medical dispatch training. The questions they ask and the instructions provided over the phone is critiqued on an ongoing basis to ensure quality service is being provided.

Highlights of CRESA’s emergency medical dispatch program include:

  • The National Academy of Emergency Medical Dispatch published its study of CRESA’s quality management process in the Annals of Emergency Medicine to show how such a program will improve compliance to emergency medical dispatch protocols.
  • Participating in a research study with Oregon Health Sciences University to develop guidelines to assist 9-1-1 dispatchers in distinguishing between callers who need traditional EMS response, and those who may be safely referred to non-EMS resources
  • An article in EMS Best Practices outlining CRESA’s emergency medical dispatch program (CRESA was formerly known as CRCA).

 

AMR paramedic
(Click to enlarge - 29 KB)
An AMR paramedic meets the public, and demonstrates stretcher loading techniques at CRESA for National 911 Day activities

MORE INFORMATION:

EMS Program
EMS District #2
Emergency medical  dispatch
Public Safety  Educators Coalition
EMS FAQs
Governance and funding

 

 

 
 

 

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