Second ambulance franchise sought

Attempts by a second ambulance company to begin operations in Southern Nevada could come down to who presents the best arguments before the cities of Las Vegas and North Las Vegas and the Clark County Commission.

John Wilson, former vice president and chief operating officer of Mercy Ambulance, and Sharon Henry, former chief executive officer with Hartson Medical Services of San Diego, have submitted applications to the local governments to form Southwest Ambulance.

Wilson said a second ambulance company would improve emergency response times throughout Clark County in servicing the massive population growth.

Southwest Ambulance has received the support of Jerald Mitchell, former chief executive officer of Sunrise Hospital and Medical Center; Steven Peterson, vice president of Sierra Health Services Inc., and Mark Howard, chief executive officer of MountainView Hospital.

But Michael Wilson, chief executive officer of American Medical Response (AMR), said his company is already meeting the needs of residents in Clark County.

Wilson said AMR has 100 ambulances in its fleet, and at any given time between 30 and 50 are on the road responding to 911 calls.

The administrator said his company, formerly Mercy Ambulance which has been in operation in Southern Nevada since 1954, has met his franchise response times of being on the scene in emergencies at or under the 8 minutes and 59 seconds that are required.

Williams said AMR employs 500 paramedics, emergency medical technicians and administrators.

"We have invested millions of dollars to become a high-tech service," Williams said, adding that a second ambulance company would take away 50 percent of his business.

Steve Hanson, deputy chief of the Clark County Fire Department, said he isn't convinced that a second ambulance company is necessary because no one has ever done a study of the county's needs. He said on the surface AMR has met the franchise requirements when responding to emergency situations.

"This will force the community to really take a look at itself," Hanson said. "Nothing really jumps out at me as problems in the past (with AMR)."

If a second ambulance service is approved, Hanson said, it will be very important that territories be designated for them to service.

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