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Looking to ID the largest Ambulance "subscription" programs in the US
Appreciate anyone who can add to the list of nominees for the largest 5 EMS programs in the U.S. that have "ambulance subscription" programs. Thanks in advance for your contributions.
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Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by John Gaines on -
The two I know of in my area who have it are Careflite and Medstar.
Careflite offers one that covers both ground and air ambulance.
Medstar has had their subscription program in place for several years and just went to a new computer based program called Invisible Bracelet.
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Permalink Reply by Patrick Nance on -
CareFlite and MedStar are the Texas operations... I only note this because there is at least one other MedStar service that I know of in Savannah, GA... and CareFlite is a pretty common name. CareFlite is not the actual registered name of the non-profit... CareFlite is located in Grand Prairie, TX and MedStar is Fort Worth, Texas based.
John Gaines said:The two I know of in my area who have it are Careflite and Medstar.
Careflite offers one that covers both ground and air ambulance.
Medstar has had their subscription program in place for several years and just went to a new computer based program called Invisible Bracelet.
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Permalink Reply by Patrick Nance on
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Sorry, I missed the last line but InvisibleBracelet is not a subscription service in the sense of "join and get a discount on our services" which is what CareFlite offers.
InvisibleBracelet is a service by which EMS providers, using a secure pin number for themselves and entering the patient's secure pin number (obtained by signing up for the service for $5 per year), the Paramedic has access to the patient's medical history, medication history, allergies, etc. At the same time, when the system is accessed, it puts out a text or SMS to the patient's "In Case of Emergency" contact saying that the patient is in a medical emergency and is bieng transported by _______ service to _________ Hospital.
More information on Invisible Bracelet can be obtained by sending me a message or via the website http://www.invisiblebracelet.org/site/sections/1-the-national-emerg....
The program is available at no cost to EMS providers listed at the website by state and is undergoing expansion to the Northeast and the West Coast very soon.
John Gaines said:The two I know of in my area who have it are Careflite and Medstar.
Careflite offers one that covers both ground and air ambulance.
Medstar has had their subscription program in place for several years and just went to a new computer based program called Invisible Bracelet.
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Permalink Reply by John Gaines on
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Yes you are correct in that, but I have been under the impression that it is a service offered by Medstar when you join their subscription program, thus making it a valid addition to the subscription question.
Patrick Nance said:Sorry, I missed the last line but InvisibleBracelet is not a subscription service in the sense of "join and get a discount on our services" which is what CareFlite offers.
InvisibleBracelet is a service by which EMS providers, using a secure pin number for themselves and entering the patient's secure pin number (obtained by signing up for the service for $5 per year), the Paramedic has access to the patient's medical history, medication history, allergies, etc. At the same time, when the system is accessed, it puts out a text or SMS to the patient's "In Case of Emergency" contact saying that the patient is in a medical emergency and is bieng transported by _______ service to _________ Hospital.
More information on Invisible Bracelet can be obtained by sending me a message or via the website http://www.invisiblebracelet.org/site/sections/1-the-national-emerg....
The program is available at no cost to EMS providers listed at the website by state and is undergoing expansion to the Northeast and the West Coast very soon.
John Gaines said:The two I know of in my area who have it are Careflite and Medstar.
Careflite offers one that covers both ground and air ambulance.
Medstar has had their subscription program in place for several years and just went to a new computer based program called Invisible Bracelet.
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Permalink Reply by Patrick Nance on
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I checked the InvisibleBracelet.org website yesterday and they do not list MedStar as a client, however, the websie may need refreshing as InvisibleBracelet.org is expanding...
John Gaines said:Yes you are correct in that, but I have been under the impression that it is a service offered by Medstar when you join their subscription program, thus making it a valid addition to the subscription question.
Patrick Nance said:Sorry, I missed the last line but InvisibleBracelet is not a subscription service in the sense of "join and get a discount on our services" which is what CareFlite offers.
InvisibleBracelet is a service by which EMS providers, using a secure pin number for themselves and entering the patient's secure pin number (obtained by signing up for the service for $5 per year), the Paramedic has access to the patient's medical history, medication history, allergies, etc. At the same time, when the system is accessed, it puts out a text or SMS to the patient's "In Case of Emergency" contact saying that the patient is in a medical emergency and is bieng transported by _______ service to _________ Hospital.
More information on Invisible Bracelet can be obtained by sending me a message or via the website http://www.invisiblebracelet.org/site/sections/1-the-national-emerg....
The program is available at no cost to EMS providers listed at the website by state and is undergoing expansion to the Northeast and the West Coast very soon.
John Gaines said:The two I know of in my area who have it are Careflite and Medstar.
Careflite offers one that covers both ground and air ambulance.
Medstar has had their subscription program in place for several years and just went to a new computer based program called Invisible Bracelet.
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Permalink Reply by Patrick Nance on
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Is this the same John Gaines that worked at Guardian?
John Gaines said:The two I know of in my area who have it are Careflite and Medstar.
Careflite offers one that covers both ground and air ambulance.
Medstar has had their subscription program in place for several years and just went to a new computer based program called Invisible Bracelet.
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Permalink Reply by John Gaines on
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I think Medstar is technically still in their beta testing stage for Invisible Bracelet. Of if they're officially using it, they just started. I remember seeing it on the news last week.
(And yes, this is that same John Gaines... sent you a friend request) ;)
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Permalink Reply by Patrick Nance on
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Hall Ambulance in Kern County, California has offered this type program for a number of years. I don't know if they are still signing up subscribers but anyone who signed up in the past can continue to pay the annual fee of $100.
I think CareFlite in Texas is $39 and I have no idea what MedStar charges.
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Permalink Reply by Ben Waller on -
I believe Acadian Ambulance (Louisiana) is one of, if not the largest subscription EMS systems in the U.S.
Community Rescue Service of Hagerstown, MD is a non-profit combination EMS/Rescue system that has offered subscription memberships for at least 3 decades.
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Permalink Reply by Marvin McLellan on -
Chris,
I would add Paramedics Plus/ DBA EMSA in both Oklahoma City and Tulsa OK. They, I believe are first to link subscription to utility companies and everyone is a subscriber unless you "opt out" which nobody takes time to do. I would estimate that because of this tactic, their subscriber base is over 1M.
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Permalink Reply by Neil White on -
This is of interest to me simply because in the UK EMS system, emergency care (the ambulance, its care, and ride to hospital) is free to one and all, citizen or non citizen. Or rather free at the point of delivery...
One thing I'd like to understand is how does the membership thing actually works in terms of calling 911. In an area that has multiple providers covering emergency services surely the nearest resource has to be sent and not the one the person is a member of?
I do like the EMSA website thoughIf you opt out and then need emergency care, you may be billed directly for all or part of EMSA's billed charge of $1,100 plus mileage. ... I've always had reservations of this type of membership scheme that people who need ambulances, the elderly, don't have financial means to join programmes and then forego ambulance care when they really need it.
Having looked at the links, surely this is more of a way to raise funds in the same way one might hold a raffle than being linked to insurance and patient care?
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Permalink Reply by John Gaines on
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Neil,
Well, here in the States we don't offer free healthcare to everyone, as I'm sure you know. So basically, not only do you not get a fat hospital bill, but a fat EMS bill also. And with everything going on, those prices are sky rocketing.
Here is how Careflite (Texas) does it (and most as similar). You sign up with the companies subscription plan, it costs $49 per year, and that covers your entire household. If you ever have to use the service (ground or air), any ambulance charges that are not covered by your insurance will be waived by the company. This can be several hundred to thousands of dollars. Basically what the company is doing is making the financial burden to the patient less. The company makes money basically by betting that a large majority of those who subscribe won't have to use it.
The reason it works, is because most the time here when a private service contracts to be the emergent response for that area, they are the sole ambulance responders unless mutual aid is needed. So it's a 95%+ chance if you call 911, that's the service that will arrive. Plus, with my company since we have air and ground, if we our ground pounders need air support.... we are gonna be calling our own people first. Only if it came down to a wait time that would harm the patient would someone else be called in.
Neil White said:This is of interest to me simply because in the UK EMS system, emergency care (the ambulance, its care, and ride to hospital) is free to one and all, citizen or non citizen. Or rather free at the point of delivery...
One thing I'd like to understand is how does the membership thing actually works in terms of calling 911. In an area that has multiple providers covering emergency services surely the nearest resource has to be sent and not the one the person is a member of?
I do like the EMSA website thoughIf you opt out and then need emergency care, you may be billed directly for all or part of EMSA's billed charge of $1,100 plus mileage. ... I've always had reservations of this type of membership scheme that people who need ambulances, the elderly, don't have financial means to join programmes and then forego ambulance care when they really need it.
Having looked at the links, surely this is more of a way to raise funds in the same way one might hold a raffle than being linked to insurance and patient care?
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