Abbott Ambulance, a subsidiary of American Medical Response (AMR), announced today that it has formalized its partnership with the City of St. Louis and the St. Louis Fire Department in an exclusive back-up agreement to supplement the city's 9-1-1 emergency ambulance services. The City of St. Louis' Board of Estimate and Apportionment unanimously approved the Abbott contract Wednesday. The board is comprised of the city's Mayor, Comptroller and President of the Board of Aldermen.

The agreement is the result of a competitive bidding process initiated earlier this year by the City through a Request for Proposal (RFP). Following the bidding process, the City's Professional Service Agreement committee recommended that the City contract with Abbott Ambulance in the event that they chose to outsource any EMS services.

Under the new agreement, the St. Louis Fire Department will continue to be the primary provider of emergency ambulance services to the community. During shift changes and at times when ambulance availability is lower than the desired level set by the Fire Chief, Abbott Ambulance will respond to emergency and non-emergency calls to supplement the City's EMS system. It is expected that the arrangement will help the city reduce costs and maintain quality ambulance services at levels required to meet the needs of the city and its citizens.

Mark L. Corley, General Manager of Abbott Ambulance, said, ?We are proud to partner with the St. Louis Fire Department and city leaders to help provide high-quality EMS services to the citizens of St. Louis.?

Jeff Rainford, the Mayor's Chief of Staff, said, ?Our agreement is an excellent example of an innovative department forging partnerships to effectively address budget challenges without compromising safety or quality.?

Mark Bruning, AMR President, added, ?Abbott Ambulance continues to provide the excellent growth, patient care and expansion of services that we anticipated when they joined AMR in 2007. We are particularly pleased that we have added yet another outstanding public-private partnership, through a competitive RFP process, to the growing number of communities we serve that see value in collaborating with the private sector to manage peak demand, enhance accountability and control, and drive superb medical results supported by data.?

Abbott Ambulance, based in the City of St. Louis, has 425 employees and has provided mutual aid/back-up ambulance services to the city for approximately 15 years. Abbott Ambulance is a wholly owned subsidiary of American Medical Response.

About American Medical Response

American Medical Response Inc. (www.amr.net), America's leading provider of medical transportation, provides services in 38 states and the District of Columbia. More than 17,000 AMR paramedics, EMTs, RNs and other professionals, with a fleet of 4,100 vehicles, transport more than three million patients nationwide each year in critical, emergency and non-emergency situations. AMR, a subsidiary of Emergency Medical Services Corporation (NYSE:EMS), is headquartered in Greenwood Village, Colo.

American Medical Response Inc.
Douglas Moore, 303-495-1287
doug.moore@emsc.net