Alameda County Welcomes New Paramedics Company

Starting on Tuesday, teal-and-white ambulances will take over roads across Alameda County.

Paramedics Plus, a seasoned paramedic company headquartered in San Leandro, received a warm welcome from elected officials and community members during its ribbon cutting ceremony and grand opening event Thursday afternoon.

In addition to the 40 jobs created, most of the 375 employees of Paramedics Plus are former employees of American Medical Response, the county's current ambulance provider.

"It's the paramedics and EMTS in this system and the mechanics and the people servicing the vehicles that's going to make us successful," said Ron Schwartz, president of Paramedics Plus.

For the past 18 months, Paramedics Plus worked with the county to prepare for a smooth transition. The organization promises to continue working with local fire departments and first responder crews during its five-year contract.

In order to enhance response times, Alameda County Regional Emergency Communications Center (ACRECC), operated by the Alameda County Fire Department, will also dispatch the new ambulances.

"You're going to see these fire engines and these ambulances responding to call on the same radio channel," said Fire Cheif Sheldon Gilbert of Alameda County Fire Department. "That may sound intuitive — it's never happened before in this county."

In addition to supplying the fire department with free technology and medical devices, the new ambulance provider plans to save county residents more than $20 million over the next five years by capping their profits at $500,000 and implementing a new rate structure.

Aside from Chief Gilbert, various speakers like San Leandro Mayor Stephen Cassidy and State Sen. Ellen Corbett (D-San Leandro) took the podium to congratulate the new organization.

"I am personally grateful for your new ambulances because they are low-emission vehicles," Corbett said.

Attendants got a chance to view the fleet of 57 new biodiesel ambulances, watch demonstrations on the new technologies and tour the facility.

Despite being new to the county, the organization has provided services for more than 10 years for counties throughout Florida, Oklahoma, Indiana and Texas.

"The chamber is very excited to have an employer come to town and immediately be one our largest employers in the entire area," said Hank Sullivan, chairman of the San Leandro Chamber of Commerce.