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Ukiah Ambulance is now Medstar Ambulance of Mendocino County Inc., a private non-profit ground transport ambulance provider serving central and southern Mendocino County. It is the longest continuously running ambulance service in Mendocino County history. Ukiah Ambulance also developed the first air rescue service in Mendocino County, called FlightCare, which operated for ten years out of the Ukiah Municipal Airport.
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Ground Operations
The company provides Advanced Life Support (ALS) emergency ambulance service to the City of Ukiah and greater Ukiah Valley, Redwood Valley, Potter Valley, Hopland and surrounding areas. Medstar/Ukiah Ambulance also provides backup assistance to Round Valley (Covelo) and Anderson Valley (Boonville), which both provide Basic Life Support (BLS) ambulance services.
Emergency ambulances are staffed with two personnel (one EMT and one Paramedic) and are equipped with:
Medical Operations
Medstar/Ukiah Ambulance operates under the regulation of the Coastal Valleys EMS Agency (CVEMSA), which is the local emergency medical services agency (LEMSA) for Sonoma County and contract LEMSA for Mendocino County.
There are three designated receiving hospitals in Mendocino County: Ukiah Valley Medical Center, a Level IV Trauma Center (Ukiah); Frank R. Howard Memorial Hospital (City of Willits); and Mendocino Coast District Hospital (Fort Bragg). Due to its remote nature, Mendocino County also sees heavy use of EMS aircraft, particularly for transport to Level III or Level II Trauma Centers, as well as STEMI and Stroke Centers. California Shock Trauma Air Rescue (CALSTAR) and REACH are the primary providers of air medical transportation within Mendocino County.
In addition to providing ambulance transportation, Medstar/Ukiah Ambulance coordinates with the Mendocino County Sheriffs Office to provide tactical paramedics. Specially trained paramedics assigned to law enforcement duties are available to provide ALS care in the “hot zone” during high risk SWAT operations. This mission-critical operation facilitates rapid aid to a downed officer or wounded suspect. The formal program was developed, in part, due to extensive efforts in the search for murder suspect Aaron Bassler in 2011.ABC News story
Accomplishments
Medstar Ambulance of Mendocino County Inc. (Medstar Ambulance), a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation, was formed in light of rising healthcare costs and economic stagnation to advance the level of care and equality of access to emergency medical services in Mendocino County. Medstar completed the purchase of Ukiah Ambulance in 2013 and operates in the same manner and scope. Medstar/Ukiah Ambulance strives to provide innovative medical care through joint ventures with local volunteer agencies, grant opportunities and its membership and hardship programs.