About
Albuquerque ambulance service (AAS) was purchased in 1972 by a joint venture between presbyterian healthcare services and ST. Joseph's healthcare system. The purchase was made in response to inadequate and inconsistent ambulance service in the city at that time, and immediate efforts were begun to improve services, personnel training, and equipment. In september of 1994, AAS became the thirty-fifth paramedic ambulance service in the united states to be nationally accredited by the commission on the accreditation of ambulance services, (CAAS). AAS is still CAAS accredited; receiving a perfect score during the most recent renewal in 2023. In 1996, presbyterian healthcare services purchased ST. Joseph's interest in AAS and gained the right to appoint ALL corporate members. Today, AAS continues to grow and serve residents of the greater albuquerque AREA and ALL of bernalillo county. AAS also responds to the village of corrales and kirtland AIR force BASE, and conducts interfacility transports in santa FE and RIO arriba county. In addition, AAS is one of the only EMS agencies to offer ground-based critical care services in new mexico. AAS provides more than just transportation for those who are SICK; it also views education about emergency medical services and prevention as part of its mission. As part of a not-for-profit organization, AAS provides emergency medical services regardless of a person's ability to pay. 2024 services provided: 71,687 = emergency transports 18,048 = inter-facility / NON-emergency transports 3,893 = patient evaluations (no transport) 93,628 = total utilization billed 56,644 = NON-billable services provied ("cancelled EN route", "determined to be NON-emergency", "patient not there", "stand-by", other) 150,272 = total requests for service community benefit: 1) uncompensated care: charity / indigent care / BAD DEBT: company policies define charity care as the provision of services when no payment or nominal payment is anticipated in return. BAD DEBT occurs when payment is anticipated, but not collected. Because patients' financial circumstances or insurance eligibility CAN change, and information provided is not always complete, BAD debts are often indistinguishable from charity services and CAN also be considered a component of uncompensated care. Cost of charity = $4,369,126 BAD DEBT = $3,321,176 total = $7,690,302 2) education: albuquerque ambulance service offers educational programs on an ongoing basis that are open to the general public and to healthcare providers from ANY organization. There are currently 6 schools in new mexico that are recognized by the NM EMS bureau as EMS training institutions (UNM EMS academy and CNM in albuquerque, santa FE community college in santa FE, eastern NM university in roswell, SAN JUAN college in farmington and DONA ANA branch community college in LAS cruces). Through agreements with these institutions, many ambulance services have personnel certified to provide training; when necessary. Credit and completion certification are issued by the institutions. AAS provides CORE continuing education courses including BLS for healthcare providers (CPR), advanced cardiac life support (ACLS), and pediatric advanced life support (PALS). Additionally. AAS provides targeted continuing education symposiums including cardiac, trauma, and pediatric topics. And other specialty, QI driven courses designed to allow providers to meet their refresher requirements for ALL levels of EMS (basic, intermediate, paramedic, and critical care paramedic). In 2023, an estimated 10% of enrollees attending carded course were NON-albuquerque ambulance staff. However, for the CE blitz DAYS, an estimated 80% of enrollees were NON-albuquerque ambulance staff and represented EMS providers serving communities from around the state of new mexico. NON-staff enrollees included external EMTS (basics, intermediates, paramedics, and critical care paramedics), nurses, physicians, other healthcare personnel, military, and community members from local schools. The following list indicates the courses offered and the estimated costs: community CPR = $320 advanced cardiac life support = $1,056 pediatric advanced life support = $512 in-person CE skills DAYS = $640 EMS MINI conference DAYS = $256 total = $2,784 this does not include the salary costs for the education coordinators employed by albuquerque ambulance who coordinate ALL classes and arrange for credit and certification. Additionally, training is provided by AAS personnel to EMT students, nursing students, and emergency department physicians and residents. Throughout the year, internships and/or "ride-alongs" are scheduled for these groups to familiarize them with EMS services and procedures. 224 students attended our MINI conference DAYS both locally and from ALL areas of new mexico, including rural areas that would otherwise not have EASY access to live CE offerings. 3) services to the general community include: * AAS provided stand-by service for several charitable events. * AAS conducted educational events for community groups including health promotion and injury prevention. * AAS participated in multiple career fairs at local schools and community centers. * AAS participated in several emergency preparedness drills with our public safety partners. 4. Connections social service program: in october 2014, AAS created an innovative program that addresses social needs identified by the first responders working in our community. Our EMTS and paramedics encounter many patients that not only have medical problems, but also have underlying social needs that require support in order to achieve their BEST health. The identified issues include food insecurity, transportation needs, and safety hazards within the patient's homes. With the patient's permission, our providers create a referral and our mobile integrated health department personnel work with each patient to get them connected to the social service agencies that CAN provide assistance. The majority of the referrals are worked by a certified community health worker. Patients who are identified as having more complicated needs and who require intensive case management are assisted by our licensed master social worker. Our specially trained community paramedics also support the program by assisting with clinical follow up and in-home visits with the patients when necessary. In 2024, the program received 459 referrals and provided services to 220 of these individuals. To DATE, this program has no funding streams as the referral process is not a billable service.
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