Emergency Medical Services Corporation (NYSE: EMS) announced today that The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has awarded the Company's operating segment, American Medical Response (“AMR“), an exclusive agreement to provide ground ambulance, air ambulance (through its Air Ambulance Specialists, Inc. subsidiary) and para-transit services to supplement the Federal and Military response to a disaster, act of terrorism or other public health emergency. The contract covers the 21 states along the Gulf and Atlantic coasts. The one-year contract, which took effect August 1, has the option for up to four one-year extensions after the initial term.

After the catastrophic 2005 hurricane season, the government recognized a need to have a national ambulance response plan to augment the state and regional plans that were overwhelmed after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. EMSC and AMR (Nachrichten) responded to those disasters to assist in the evacuation and provision of emergency medical services (EMS), providing hundreds of ambulances, paramedics and EMTs. For the 2006 hurricane season, FEMA again contracted with AMR to provide evacuation to south Louisiana in the event of another hurricane.

The new contract provides for more than medical transportation. It includes patient triage, treatment, and transport as well as hazard recognition, symptom surveillance and reporting, on-scene medical stand-by, and transport and redistribution of patients to free-up receiving hospital bed space. EMSC/ AMR assets also may be used to provide immunizations, staffing for shelters and hospital emergency departments, and to set up mobile medical units.

Don S. Harvey, EMSC President and Chief Operating Officer, said, “During a catastrophic disaster with mass casualties, a regional scope is insufficient. AMR employs more than 18,500 people and operates in 37 states with a fleet of more than 4,500 vehicles. These vast resources, along with our surge capacity, make us uniquely qualified to respond to large scale disasters of national significance.“

Steve Delahousey, Vice President of Emergency Preparedness for AMR, added, “We have identified the “˜best practices' that were implemented in Hurricane Katrina. We were able to evacuate and treat thousands of patients. We were recognized by Congress and the Department of Homeland Security for our ability to respond to extraordinary EMS needs during the 2005 hurricane season. We are now prepared to offer an even broader array of services to the entire nation.“

To augment its own internal resources, EMSC has established a nationwide network of ground ambulance providers (public and private), air ambulance and para-transit service providers to ensure that local jurisdictions do not have to sacrifice EMS resources that may be needed for a national disaster.

About Emergency Medical Services Corporation

Emergency Medical Services Corporation (EMSC) is a leading provider of emergency medical services in the United States. EMSC operates two business segments: American Medical Response, Inc. (AMR), the Company's healthcare transportation services segment, and EmCare Holdings, Inc. (EmCare), the Company's emergency department and hospital-based management services segment. AMR is the leading provider of ambulance services in the United States. EmCare is the nation's leading provider of outsourced emergency department staffing and related management services. In 2006, EMSC provided services to nearly 10 million patients in more than 2,000 communities nationwide. EMSC is headquartered in Greenwood Village, Colorado. For additional information visit www.emsc.net.

About American Medical Response

American Medical Response Inc. (www.amr.net), America's leading provider of medical transportation, is locally operated in 37 states and the District of Columbia. AMR's 18,500 paramedics, EMTs and other professionals transport more than four million patients nationwide each year in critical, emergency and non-emergency situations. Operating a fleet of approximately 4,500 vehicles, AMR is headquartered in Greenwood Village, CO.

Source:  Business Wire


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