Emergency Medical Services

Rural/Metro Medical Services provides 9-1-1 ambulance services to the City of Rochester. Our operation also provided mutual aid ambulance service to various suburban ambulance and fire agencies. Healthcare facilities in the Rochester area uses our company to provide emergency medical services and transportation for scheduled inter-facility transfers. Rural/Metro takes great pride in the competence, experience, and professionalism of our providers and support staff. This is evident by our accreditation from the National Commission on the Accreditation of Ambulance Services, (CAAS) which accepted as the "gold standard" in the pre-hospital industry. This level of performance means that we operate at a higher standard than the basic guidelines set by the New York State Department of Health. Since 1994, Rural/Metro is the only accredited ambulance provider in Monroe County.

Rural/Metro Medical Services operates with a Paramedic and an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) on each of its 38 ambulances. We also have a specialized Specialty Care Transport Unit (SCTU) that is staffed by Critical Care-Paramedics (CCEMT-P) and utilizes additional hospital personnel as needed.

Emergency Ambulance Services

Emergency ambulance services are provided for patients with medical and psychological conditions that require urgent evaluation in a hospital emergency room. These patients receive the closest available ambulance so that they receive prompt treatment. The majority of Rural/Metro's emergency calls are initiated through the 9-1-1 system.

STAT Transfers:

A hospital-to-emergency department transfer for a patient who requires an emergency lights and sirens ambulance response. The patient is unstable or could become unstable and must be immediately transferred to a more appropriate facility for further care. All paper work and/or tests must be completed and the patient must be ready for transport upon the ambulance's arrival.

This type of patient is considered an Emergency.

Non-Emergency Ambulance Services

Non-emergency ambulance services are scheduled in advance. This service is typically used for non-life threatening transfers between facilities or for transportation to and from appointments (Must be approved by a physician).

Basic Life Support Ambulance (BLS) Transfer

A patient who can be transported on a stretcher and who requires medical monitoring and treatment (includes oxygen, restraints).

Advanced Life Support Ambulance (ALS) Transfer

A patient who can be transported by stretcher and who requires a higher level of medical care to possibly include ACLS treatment/ monitoring (includes IV's, ECG monitoring).

Critical Care Transport Unit (CCTU)

Provides care to critical/complex patients who cannot experience a decrease in level of care and monitoring during transports. This is the most advanced unit in the Greater Rochester Area which is used for critical patients that have ventilators, intra-aortic balloon pumps, multiple IV drips, or meets other appropriate criteria's. Hospital staff provides assistance to Rural/Metro with these transports as needed.

Emergency Support Unit

The Emergency Medical Services' Division has an Emergency Support Unit (ESU) which serves as a command post for Mass Casualty Incidents and large public gatherings. It is provided free of charge to local EMS/Fire agencies for assistance in large scale emergencies in Monroe and Livingston Counties and is available for hire at local community events. This unit is designed with a treatment area separate from the command area and is equipped to handle up to 18 patients simultaneously while using oxygen. To schedule the ESU for an event, please contact Operations Supervisor, Steve Forrett.

Paramedic Bike Team

Paramedic Bike Team in front the ESU 100.

Rural/Metro's Bike Teams are frequently utilized for festivals, fairs, and community events. The two member team consists of one EMT and one Paramedic, who have enough medications and equipment to treat a patient during the first fifteen minutes of any medical emergency while awaiting the arrival of an ambulance. The very size and purpose of the bikes allows medical treatment to rapidly reach the patient, which is difficult to do with a traditional ambulance during highly populated events. Rural/Metro is also able to provide multiple bike teams for large scale events. To schedule the Bike Team for an event, please contact the Public Information Officer, LaShay Harris at lashay_harris@rmetro.com.