January 26, 2015
The City of Bessemer Fire Department has two new ambulance companies located in The City of Bessemer that will begin responding to emergency 911 calls within the city limits, including Bessemer-based Shoals Ambulance.
Beginning this week, Shoals Ambulance and Regional Paramedical Services (RPS) will provide emergency ambulance coverage for the city.
“We have been impressed with Shoals Ambulance’s level of care and clinical excellence and believe their company, in conjunction with RPS, will provide the necessary resources to protect the health and safety of our residents, which is our top concern,” Bessemer EMS Division Chief Shane Boyd said.
Dispatchers at the Bessemer E-911 Center will rotate between the two providers which will both have ambulances strategically located across the city and dispatch the appropriate vehicle to the emergency call.
Shoals Ambulance has committed three advanced life support ambulances stationed around-the-clock within the Bessemer city limits. Shoals’ Mercedes-Benz ambulances are equipped with lifesaving medical equipment and staffed by licensed EMTs and paramedics.
“In every community we serve, we make it our priority to not only provide excellent medical transport options, but also to invest in community organizations and provide proactive health initiatives that ensure a high quality of life,” said Eric Messer, Shoals Ambulance vice president of development.
“Since opening an office in Bessemer early last year, we have become an integral part of the community. We are honored to expand that relationship even more and bring the City of Bessemer and its residents these vital emergency services.”
Shoals Ambulance has approximately 50 EMTs and paramedics serving the Bessemer area; many are longtime Alabama residents. Shoals Ambulance also has hired nine new employees with the addition of emergency call duties.
A talented team leads the Bessemer operation with years of experience in the medical transport field in Alabama. Nick Diliberto serves as vice president of operations for the Alabama Division and has more than 38 years of experience in local ambulance operations. Alan Bowman serves as operations supervisor for the Bessemer office. Messer is director of business development after serving with Rural/Metro and Lifeguard ambulance services for 13 years.
The Bessemer facility is 15,000 square feet with a training center for ongoing education of EMTs, paramedics and managers. Shoals Ambulance is located in Bessemer, Ala., at 1110 Greenwood Crossing Court.
About Shoals Ambulance
Shoals Ambulance has provided excellent medical transport services to communities in the state of Alabama since 2012. Shoals Ambulance is the exclusive E-911 ambulance provider for Lauderdale County and the City of Florence in North Alabama. Shoals Ambulance provides nonemergency transport options to Muscle Shoals and Birmingham, specializing in the highest level of comfort and patient safety. Shoals Ambulance is a regional branch of Priority Ambulance.
About Priority Ambulance
Based in Knoxville, Tenn., Priority Ambulance provides the highest level of clinical excellence in emergency and nonemergency medical care to the communities it serves. Throughout its national service area, more than 500 highly trained paramedics, EMTs and telecommunicators staff state-of-the-art ambulances with the latest medical equipment and technology.
Priority Ambulance provides emergency and nonemergency medical transport options in East Tennessee to Knox, Loudon and Blount counties. Priority Ambulance also operates in Utica, N.Y., as Kunkel Ambulance and Trans Am Ambulance in Olean, N.Y. Operating as Shoals Ambulance in Alabama, the company serves Lauderdale, Colbert and Franklin Counties and the greater Birmingham metro area in Alabama. In the Greater Indianapolis area, Priority Ambulance operates as Seals Ambulance.