GMR Deploys First Responders to Connecticut, Louisiana to Support Communities Overwhelmed by COVID-19
2.3.2022
The Company’s ground division, AMR, and sub-contracted network providers are now responding to requests for aid from the Federal Government in nine states.
Many communities and states remain in the midst of extremely high COVID-19 positivity rates and hospitalizations due to the Omicron variant. To support these communities and states, Global Medical Response (GMR) is deploying paramedics, EMTs and support personnel to provide much-needed help in Connecticut and Louisiana. In addition, GMR is sending a second deployment of resources to North Carolina. These frontline care providers and support staff join hundreds of providers already serving in New York, Vermont, New Hampshire, Arizona, Maine, Pennsylvania and North Carolina. The deployments are in response to a FEMA request to help the federal government and local emergency personnel respond to record surges in COVID-19 infections and hospitalizations.
“While current rates of new infections are declining nationwide, many individual communities in the U.S. continue to struggle with high increased caseload and hospitalizations,” said GMR Chief Operating Officer Ted Van Horne. “The challenges of healthcare staffing shortages stress the ability to manage these patients. GMR is currently providing support to communities in nine states still battling this latest surge.”
GMR’s National Command Center (NATCOM), was activated two years ago, and has supported COVID-19 deployments every day since the activation.
“There are still hospitals and EMS systems that are being overwhelmed by COVID-19, due to a significant increase in the number of patients, their own employees being infected, or both,” Van Horne said. “We began supporting these heroes in January 2020, and will continue to do so until they have the capacity and staffing to sustain normal operations.”
Crews in Louisiana are on a 17-day activation, and crews in Connecticut are on a 30-day activation. The additional crews deployed to North Carolina are on a 15-day activation. These timeframes may change as the situation evolves. Deployed teams will stay in the areas as long as they are needed. When they arrive at their assigned destinations, the caregivers will work under the guidance of FEMA, state, and local EMS agencies.
Van Horne added that the deployments do not affect GMR’s or the other EMS providers’ ability to meet the needs of patients in home communities. GMR air and ground teams continue to provide emergency and non-emergency transports to tens of thousands of patients nationwide.
AMR has a national agreement with FEMA to provide ground ambulance, air ambulance, paratransit services and non-ambulance EMS personnel to supplement federal and military response to a disaster, act of terrorism or other public health emergency.
“While current rates of new infections are declining nationwide, many individual communities in the U.S. continue to struggle with high increased caseload and hospitalizations,” said GMR Chief Operating Officer Ted Van Horne. “The challenges of healthcare staffing shortages stress the ability to manage these patients. GMR is currently providing support to communities in nine states still battling this latest surge.”
GMR’s National Command Center (NATCOM), was activated two years ago, and has supported COVID-19 deployments every day since the activation.
“There are still hospitals and EMS systems that are being overwhelmed by COVID-19, due to a significant increase in the number of patients, their own employees being infected, or both,” Van Horne said. “We began supporting these heroes in January 2020, and will continue to do so until they have the capacity and staffing to sustain normal operations.”
Crews in Louisiana are on a 17-day activation, and crews in Connecticut are on a 30-day activation. The additional crews deployed to North Carolina are on a 15-day activation. These timeframes may change as the situation evolves. Deployed teams will stay in the areas as long as they are needed. When they arrive at their assigned destinations, the caregivers will work under the guidance of FEMA, state, and local EMS agencies.
Van Horne added that the deployments do not affect GMR’s or the other EMS providers’ ability to meet the needs of patients in home communities. GMR air and ground teams continue to provide emergency and non-emergency transports to tens of thousands of patients nationwide.
AMR has a national agreement with FEMA to provide ground ambulance, air ambulance, paratransit services and non-ambulance EMS personnel to supplement federal and military response to a disaster, act of terrorism or other public health emergency.
