The type of transportation is based on an industry term: “medically necessary” a series of questions can determine whether BLS, ALS, CCT/SCT, or 911 is appropriate. 

If the patient can walk or is in a wheelchair, transportation other than an ambulance should be utilized. If the patient is bed-bound, cannot sit for an extended period, or needs assistance to transfer, or needs care, medical monitoring, or treatment then an ambulance is utilized.

*In all emergencies, an ambulance is utilized.

Sure, Premier Ambulance can transport you to your hospital of choice if you are stable enough for the transport, which is determined by the EMT or Paramedic who arrives to evaluate you and as long as it is within local Emergency Medical Services Agency policies and guidelines for transport.

Basic Life Support

Basic Life Support (BLS) ambulances provide transport to patients who do not require extra support or cardiac monitoring. A BLS ambulance is staffed by two Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) who have training in basic emergency medical care such as basic airway management, use of an automated external defibrillator (AED), and basic drug administration. Examples of BLS transports include:

• Hospital discharges
• Psychiatric discharges
• Basic Life Support emergencies
• Interfacility transfers
• Transport to dialysis
• Doctor’s offices

Advanced Life Support

Advanced Life Support (ALS) ambulances transport patients who need a higher level of care during transport above those services provided by a BLS ambulance. The unit is staffed with at least one paramedic who has over 1,000 hours of education and training and is qualified to render advanced life support to patients such as advanced airway management, drug administration, and cardiac monitoring under the direction of a hospital. Patients who typically require ALS transport include:

• Medical/surgical patients with a continuous IV
• Patients on a cardiac monitor
• Patients with potential airway compromise
• Any patient deemed to have a potential complication during transport when reported by the sending facility
• Life-threatening medical emergencies (For example: stroke, seizure, or chest pains)

Private ambulances are used for emergency transports, non-emergency transports and critical care transfers. Private ambulances can transfer you to your hospital of choice based upon medical stability for transfer whereas 911 can only take you to the closest hospital.

In addition, some private ambulances, Premier being one, have the capabilities to transfer high risk patients on ventilators & IV drips and manage expanded scope medications that your local 911 ambulance typically cannot.

At Premier, we are open 24 hours a day 365 days per year. If you have a medical emergency, please contact us right away so we can get you to the emergency room without delay. If you are looking to schedule an appointment, Premier can do so at any time, preferably with 2 to 4-hour notice if possible to ensure timely performance.

Medicare states non-emergency ambulance transports are considered medically necessary when the patient’s medical condition is such that the use of any other method of transportation (e.g., taxi, private car, wheelchair coach) would be medically contraindicated (e.g., would endanger the patient’s medical condition).

The lack of an available alternate mode of transportation (e.g., taxi, bus, personal car) or the inability to drive does not satisfy the medically necessary requirements. Non-emergency ambulance transport for convenience or because another means of transportation is not available is not considered medically necessary, and, therefore not covered.

To comply with applicable laws, requests for medical records must be made in writing. In certain cases documentation and signature authorization are needed.