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How does the Basic Lift Support compare to other ambulance services?

The Basic Lift Support is different from other ambulance services in a few key ways. We’ll address each of these points as we go through the pros and cons of this ambulance service vs others. 

What is the Basic Lift Support?

The Basic Lift Support is a level of emergency service that is often provided by Volunteer Ambulance Companies (VAC) to non-emergent patients in need of a safe and reliable ride to the hospital or other medical facility. The service is often free of charge. The only requirement is that a patient decline transport in an emergency vehicle. The Basic Lift Support is distinct from Advanced Life Support (ALS), which is the primary level of care provided by emergency medical services (EMS) providers. ALS has additional equipment and personnel that are specially trained to administer advanced life support. The Basics of the Basic Lift Support A basic lift support is a vehicle that transports patients successfully without an advanced life support ambulance. The VAC was the first organization in the United States to employ this service. The service is sometimes called a “lift-only” service because the patient does not get an ambulance with a nurse, doctor, or other medical services. The patient is transported in a certified Paramedic’s (CP) vehicle. The Basic Lift Support is a level of emergency service that is often provided by Volunteer Ambulance Companies (VAC) to non-emergent patients in need of a safe and reliable ride to the hospital or other medical facility. The service is often free of charge. The only requirement is that a patient decline transport in an emergency vehicle. 

Which ambulance services have a Basic Lift Support?

The American Association of EMTs (AATE) does not recognize multiple agencies using the term “Basic Lift Support” and therefore does not include BLS in its definition of “ALS.” However, some non-profit groups using the term may include BLS in their definition. The American Red Cross does not have a separate “Basic Life Support” component, but has a “First Aid” component that includes “First Aid for the Moneyless” that trains people to use basic life support equipment, medications, and other resources in an emergency setting. 

What’s the difference between a basic lift support and an Advanced Life Support (ALS) ambulance?

There are a few key differences between a basic lift support and an advanced life support ambulance that can make the service more appropriate for a given situation. Typically, the advanced life support ambulance has more equipment and personnel, is transporting the patient in a more secure location, and is capable of providing advanced life supportive measures such as connecting the patient to a ventilator or a heart machine. The basic lift support does not require advanced life support measures and can transport patients to the hospital or other medical facility in a standard motor vehicle or other standard vehicle. 

Basic Life Support for Ambulances

Typically, the advanced life support ambulance is the one providing the basic life support for the patient. This may be the case even if the patient is being transported in a basic lift support vehicle. Typically, the driver and/or another paramedic are “on call” to respond to calls for patients in the basic lift support. The driver and/or other paramedic may or may not be “competent” to respond to other types of calls. Typically, the personnel in the advanced life support ambulance are equipped to provide ventilator maintenance and replacement, supplemental oxygen, and other advanced life support services. 

Advanced Life Support for Ambulances

Similar to basic life support, the Advanced Life Support (ALS) level of care is distinct from other types of EMS due to the level of equipment, personnel, and other factors. The ALS unit may have specific equipment to monitor and manage an advanced condition such as an ECG, a heart monitor, an automated external defibrillator (AED), an artificial ventilation system, or another monitoring device. The ALS unit may also be equipped with a mechanical ventilation system, an intracerebral pressure monitoring device, or another machine to help the patient maintain adequate oxygenation or ventilation. 

Summing up

EMS providers are always on the look out for ways to improve patient care. Sometimes this is done by changing equipment or adding additional personnel to existing services. Other times, it’s done by promoting a service that’s specifically tailored for the patient population. The American Association of EMTs (AATE) does not recognize multiple agencies using the term “Basic Lift Support” and therefore does not include BLS in its definition of “ALS.” The American Red Cross does not have a separate “Basic Life Support” component, but has a “First Aid” component that includes “First Aid for the Moneyless” that trains people to use basic life support equipment, medications, and other resources in an emergency setting. Emergency Medical Services in New Jersey: Address, sideway, and technicalities New Jersey has a large number of small and mid-sized towns that make up the state’s interior. The largest of these towns is Paterson, which is located in Passaic County. Paterson is where the majority of New Jersey’s EMS service providers are located. Because of this, it’s also where we’ll focus our attention. 

Address and Contact Information

Paterson is the largest city in Passaic County, New Jersey and is located about halfway between New York City and San Francisco. It is connected to New York City and Philadelphia via the New York and Philadelphia, respectively, and is served by Amtrak. The closest city to Paterson is New York City, located about 50 miles to the north. According to a Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) document, the address of the Paterson EMS is 29 Washington Street, Paterson, NJ 07501, and the phone number is 973-769-1117. 

Side Way

As we mentioned above, Paterson is quite a large city and is broken up into multiple boroughs. One of these boroughs is South Paterson, which is where the majority of EMS services are located. In order to better serve this population, an agreement was made between the Borough of South Paterson and Paterson EMS to create the South Paterson EMS Service. The South Paterson EMS Service is operated under a provider-operated, not-for-profit corporation, which provides EMS services in the Borough of South Paterson. Currently, South Paterson EMS offers three ambulance services: Advanced Life Support (ALS), Basic Life Support (BLS), and Paramedic (Paramedic). All three services are located in the borough and pick up only patients within that borough. 

Technicalities

As we mentioned above, there are a few technicalities that are unique to each of the ambulance services. All three services use a similar dispatch system and have similar training programs. Most importantly, though, each of the services is run by dedicated professionals who care deeply about patients and the communities they serve. 

Conclusion

Emergency medical services are essential for patients and emergency workers alike. However, there are some important differences between the two that healthcare providers should be aware of so they can better serve their constituents. The most significant of these differences is the type of health care provided by the different emergency service providers. When patients are discharged from the emergency department, they are usually given instructions on how to get in touch with their healthcare providers for additional care or support. Emergency service providers also provide transportation to and from the hospital, as well as follow-up care, for patients who need it. 

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