Riverside County Air Ambulance
RIVERSIDE (CNS) – The Board of Supervisors Tuesday approved the Riverside County Emergency Management Department’s request for a five-year agreement with a helicopter ambulance service to perform medical evacuations countywide.
In a 5-0 vote without comment, the board signed off on the compact with REACH Air Medical Services, and approved an associated agreement with the California Highway Patrol to facilitate dispatch of air ambulances to emergencies on highways, freeways and unincorporated roads throughout the county.
REACH, Mercy Air and other private flight assets have been utilized in the county for decades, most often employed by Cal Fire and municipalities’ public safety agencies.
The new agreements, which will be in effect from Feb. 1, 2024, to Jan. 31, 2029, meet criteria established under the California Health & Safety Code pertaining to “helicopter emergency medical services” programs, according to officials.
“(The county) is dedicated to providing emergency medical services in support of public health and welfare of residents,” according to an EMD statement posted to the board’s agenda. “Such medical assistance is particularly enhanced by use of certified emergency medical response personnel.”
There were no dollar amounts attached to the agreements because patients will be responsible for their own transportation costs in the event of a medical emergency requiring a helicopter with advanced life support systems.
REACH is owned and operated by Greenwood Village, Colorado-based Global Medical Response Inc., which also owns American Medical Response, the county’s ground ambulance service provider.
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