With Virus Surging, Ambulance Workers’ Hard Job Just Got Harder

https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/12/29/multimedia/29virus-ems.html

The day begins with calls to the dispatch center. Linze Thompson, 26, records information: the state of patients’ health, their coronavirus test results and safety precautions the E.M.T.s must take.

NORTH HOLLYWOOD, CA – From left: Deandre Predom, 31, and Omar De La Torre, 24, receive a transfer call for a dialysis patient inside their rig near AmWest headquarters in North Hollywood on Wednesday Dec. 9, 2020. Gabriella Angotti-Jones for The New York Times Assignment ID: NYTCREDIT: Gabriella Angotti-Jones for The New York Times

The dispatcher notes an estimated time for patient pickup and contacts the crew on call. Crews time each transport down to the minute.

WEST COVINA, CA – Joshua Berrios, 30, dons protective gear ahead of transferring a COVID-19 positive patient from an assisted living home in West Covina to a nursing home in Hollywood on Wednesday Dec. 9, 2020. Gabriella Angotti-Jones for The New York Times Assignment ID: NYTCREDIT: Gabriella Angotti-Jones for The New York Times

Once on location, Joshua Berrios, 30, dons a mask, gown, face shield, goggles and gloves. The E.M.T.s approach each scene as if the patient were positive for the coronavirus.

NORTH HOLLYWOOD, CA – Javier De La Cruz checks the blood pressure of a possible COVID-19 patient at a convalescent home in North Hollywood on Wednesday Dec. 9, 2020. Gabriella Angotti-Jones for The New York Times Assignment ID: NYTCREDIT: Gabriella Angotti-Jones for The New York Times

Javier De La Cruz, 23, checks each patient’s vital signs three times: when the E.M.T.s arrive, while in the ambulance and when the crew reaches its destination.

After every run, Mr. De La Cruz disinfects the back of the ambulance — from the seatbelts that strap patients to gurneys to the rig’s floor. It’s a standard protocol that has taken on new importance during the pandemic.
LOS ANGELES, CA – A dispatcher with AmWest Ambulance takes a call from a private institution regarding a COVID-19 patient pickup and transfer to a nearby hospital early on the morning of on Thursday Dec. 10, 2020. Gabriella Angotti-Jones for The New York Times Assignment ID: 30251555A NYTCREDIT: Gabriella Angotti-Jones for The New York Times

Emergency medical technicians for Amwest Ambulance have worked with coronavirus patients in Los Angeles since March. During this surge of cases in California, roughly 40 percent of the patients they transport are considered “Covid-19 probable.”

LOS ANGELES, CA – Joshua Berrios, 30, on Wednesday Dec. 9, 2020. Gabriella Angotti-Jones for The New York Times Assignment ID: 30251717A NYTCREDIT: Gabriella Angotti-Jones for The New York Times

Brian Fula-Napoli, an Amwest manager, says the company’s costs have risen 25 to 30 percent because of the cost of supplies. If the trend continues, he worries there may be fewer private ambulance companies in the future.

HOLLYWOOD, CA – From left: Joshua Berrios, 30, helps his partner, Alexander Stevens, transfer a COVID-19 patient’s into a nursing home in Hollywood on Wednesday Dec. 9, 2020. Gabriella Angotti-Jones for The New York Times Assignment ID: 30251555A NYTCREDIT: Gabriella Angotti-Jones for The New York Times

Sometimes E.M.T. crews must wait four to six hours to find a bed in a hospital that will accept their patients’ insurance or where their doctors have privileges.

SHERMAN OAKS, CA – Javier De La Cruz, center, greets another AmWest Ambulance EMT as he and a patient wait outside the Sherman Oaks Hospital emergency room on Wednesday Dec. 9, 2020. The AmWest EMTs have formed closer relationships with their colleagues and partners during the pandemic, as a new level of trust has been built in order to keep each other safe around COVID-19 positive patients. Gabriella Angotti-Jones for The New York Times Assignment ID: NYTCREDIT: Gabriella Angotti-Jones for The New York Times

Crews have developed close relationships since the pandemic began in March. Many request certain partners, Mr. Fula-Napoli said, since they know each other’s working style and personalities. They have built up trust.

Thanksgiving Brings New Life to Empty Local Fire Station

Fire Chief forms a unique partnership with LA-based AmWest Ambulance to lease an empty Fire Station in Northern California to bolster revenue and offset costs.

SALIDA, CALIFORNIA– December 1, 2020 – Salida Fire Chief Pat Burns lead the efforts to partner with an LA-based ambulance service leasing out an empty fire station over the Thanksgiving holiday. After years of attempting to find some way to cover the expenses of their newest of three stations, Chief Burns crafted an agreement with AmWest Ambulance over the holiday.

Chief Burns like many Fire Chiefs faces increasing costs and shrinking budgets. Many districts built new fire stations prior to 2008/2009 when the economy and growth stalled in California. Faced with an empty station and its cost, Chief Burns looked for any viable option to help offset the expenses. AmWest Ambulance based in Los Angeles just opened a temporary location directly across the freeway from the station and was looking for a permanent ambulance base. With the help of local developer Bret Hughes, the introductions were made in October that lead to an agreement signed over the Thanksgiving holiday.

“When local growth stalled unexpectedly in 2008, we had just completed building our third fire station North of the town. After several years of slow growth, we started exploring options to cover costs. When Bret Hughes introduced me to the local AmWest Ambulance manager, I knew we had a viable option to offset costs and a way to maintain the station. We’re excited to have AmWest Ambulance as our tenant and partner” said Chief Pat Burns of Salida Fire District.

“Partnering with Salida Fire District just made good business sense for our growing company and offered a made to order operations center for our San Joaquin and Stanislaus operations. We are honored to take possession of this incredible facility and look forward to a long and mutually beneficial relationship with Salida Fire and Chief Burns” said Boris Krutonog, President of CEO of AmWest Ambulance. 

About AmWest Ambulance 

AmWest Ambulance, based in North Hollywood California is a top-rated ambulance service providing a broad range of medical transportation services including emergency, basic life support, critical care, neonatal, specialty care, air medical and event medical standby support. In business for over 10 years, AmWest recently expanded their high-quality medical transportation services to Northern California with operation centers in Ranch Cordova and Salida, California. The operation based in Salida provides non-emergency ambulance transportation.