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Arlington‘ s Emergency Medical Service system is an integration of the resources of the Fire Department and our private ambulance contractor, American Medical Response( AMR). The Arlington Fire Department‘ s First Responder Program dispatches fire apparatus as well as an ambulance on most medical emergencies. All Arlington firefighters are Emergency Medical Technicians certified as either EMT-Intermediates or Paramedics. This high level of training allows them to perform advanced life support skills, including initiating intravenous access for drugs and fluids, inserting endotracheal breathing tubes, and administering medications. Because of the strategic placement of fire stations throughout the city, firefighters are often the first emergency responders to arrive at the scene of an incident. These trained EMS professionals are able to stabilize patients and initiate critical life saving measures prior to the arrival of an ambulance.
The Arlington Fire Department manages the Arlington EMS System under a failsafe franchise model. AMR is the exclusive ambulance service provider in Arlington. The ambulance contract is a fee-based system, with no taxpayer subsidy paid to AMR. Citizens are offered the opportunity to participate in AMR‘ s Ready Care subscription program, which limits out of pocket expenses for medically necessary transports. AMR‘ s fleet of Mobile Intensive Care Unit ambulances is operated under a system status management concept, with the number and placement of units determined by continuing analysis of call patterns.
The City‘ s contract with AMR establishes response time standards for each call level, from critical full cardiac arrests to inter-facility transfers from hospitals to nursing homes. Penalties are assessed for performance below the contractual requirements for each call type.
Working Together to Make Arlington Better.
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