GMR Deploys Medical Personnel and Ambulances to Support FEMA’s COVID-19 Response in Minnesota
11.19.2020
Company deploys crews and vehicles from AMR and other EMS providers.
(DALLAS) – For the fourth time in 2020, Global Medical Response (GMR) has answered the call from FEMA to help areas affected by COVID-19. GMR is sending 25 ambulances and 70 medical and command staff personnel from American Medical Response and participating network providers to hard-hit Minnesota communities. This is in response to a FEMA request to help the federal government and local emergency personnel respond to the COVID-19 pandemic.
GMR deployed Paramedics, EMTs and support personnel on Thursday, November 19, to Minnesota. Caregivers and support personnel are responding from five states.
“As the weather turns colder, Minnesota communities, like many across the country, are in the midst of another wave of COVID-19,” said GMR Chief Operating Officer Ted Van Horne. “We are supporting FEMA by providing first responder crews and ambulances to assist our fellow emergency services providers.” Van Horne added that GMR is also sending logistics teams to provide additional support for the deployed first responders.
GMR’s Office of Emergency Management activated the company’s National Command Center (NATCOM) in Dallas on January 28 to monitor the spread of the virus closely and work with state and federal agencies to deploy teams for screenings, transports and evacuations. GMR’s medical leaders are working closely with the Centers for Disease Control and departments of public health around the country. In March and April, GMR deployed more than 1,600 EMS crews and ambulances to New York City and New Jersey. In late July, the company sent 50 ambulances and more than 110 personnel to southern Texas.
GMR closely monitors all of its frontline caregivers, including those deployed from AMR and EMS network providers, using state-of-the-art monitoring and medical assessments via the company’s SafeRestart program. The SafeRestart program includes:
Van Horne added that the deployments do not impact 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.
Deployed crews work under the guidance of FEMA, state and local governments when they arrive at their assigned areas.
AMR is the primary medical ground transportation division of parent company Global Medical Response. As the nation’s largest provider of ground medical transportation and FEMA’s prime emergency medical service response provider, AMR has a national agreement with FEMA to provide ground ambulance, air ambulance, paratransit services and non-ambulance EMS personnel to supplement the Federal and Military response to a disaster, an act of terrorism or any other public health emergency. Van Horne said teams prepare for emergency responses around the country with year-round training exercises, storing equipment and vehicles in strategic locations. This preparation enables the company to respond usually within 36-48 hours’ notice.
GMR deployed Paramedics, EMTs and support personnel on Thursday, November 19, to Minnesota. Caregivers and support personnel are responding from five states.
“As the weather turns colder, Minnesota communities, like many across the country, are in the midst of another wave of COVID-19,” said GMR Chief Operating Officer Ted Van Horne. “We are supporting FEMA by providing first responder crews and ambulances to assist our fellow emergency services providers.” Van Horne added that GMR is also sending logistics teams to provide additional support for the deployed first responders.
GMR’s Office of Emergency Management activated the company’s National Command Center (NATCOM) in Dallas on January 28 to monitor the spread of the virus closely and work with state and federal agencies to deploy teams for screenings, transports and evacuations. GMR’s medical leaders are working closely with the Centers for Disease Control and departments of public health around the country. In March and April, GMR deployed more than 1,600 EMS crews and ambulances to New York City and New Jersey. In late July, the company sent 50 ambulances and more than 110 personnel to southern Texas.
GMR closely monitors all of its frontline caregivers, including those deployed from AMR and EMS network providers, using state-of-the-art monitoring and medical assessments via the company’s SafeRestart program. The SafeRestart program includes:
- Evaluation of each crew member, which includes symptom and temperature checks every 12 hours
- GMR’s online infectious disease screening platform (GMR’s MAST – Medical Assessment and Screening Tool)
- 24/7-staffed Nurse Navigation and Physician team to assess, screen and monitor employees who have been in contact with COVID-19 positive or presumptive patients
- Phone calls and check-ins to GMR crews or personnel who have been quarantined or are self-isolating
Van Horne added that the deployments do not impact 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.
Deployed crews work under the guidance of FEMA, state and local governments when they arrive at their assigned areas.
AMR is the primary medical ground transportation division of parent company Global Medical Response. As the nation’s largest provider of ground medical transportation and FEMA’s prime emergency medical service response provider, AMR has a national agreement with FEMA to provide ground ambulance, air ambulance, paratransit services and non-ambulance EMS personnel to supplement the Federal and Military response to a disaster, an act of terrorism or any other public health emergency. Van Horne said teams prepare for emergency responses around the country with year-round training exercises, storing equipment and vehicles in strategic locations. This preparation enables the company to respond usually within 36-48 hours’ notice.