AMR of El Paso County Named Colorado Ambulance Service of the Year

November 9, 2013 -- This year, the Emergency Medical Services Association of Colorado and the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment honored American Medical Response of El Paso County as Colorado Ambulance Service of the Year, an ambulance service that is a leader in patient care, medical control, quality assurance, public education, public access, and training and education.

The agency, which serves Colorado Springs, El Paso County and surrounding areas, demonstrated an unparalleled commitment to these communities during the Waldo Canyon and Black Forest fires. During each event, they were able to marshal multiple resources and evacuate skilled nursing facilities while continuing to respond to 9-1-1 calls for help and going about the normal business of inter facility patient transport.

“They really stepped up and provided a much-needed service for the community. We’re happy to have them here,” said Lorin Schroeder, an emergency preparedness officer for Penrose-St. Francis Hospital. He was on the receiving end of the Mount St. Francis evacuation and saw how well the disaster response team handled what could have been a confusing and chaotic event. “They went absolutely above and beyond,” he says. “They were leaders in the evacuation of the community. They really brought calm to the chaos.”

Plains to Peaks RETAC Coordinator Kim Schallenberger said in his nomination, "American Medical Response-El Paso County is a valued and respected member of the emergency response community in this region. Their support for small volunteer agencies is unmatched—by providing training, equipment and support for all the agencies in the system. AMR goes above the standard and provides support for agencies outside of their response area, by providing training and educators for the RETAC's five counties."

For more, see facebook.com/AMRCOS and AMRPikesPeak.com.