Paramedics Plus and East Texas Medical Center EMS, which are operated by East Texas Medical Center Regional Healthcare System, have added anti-theft devices in all ambulances. The new devices increase security for patients, ambulance crews and the communities in which they serve.
The passive devices prevent unauthorized personnel from shifting the ambulance out of park position. The ambulance remains secure while the ignition key stays in place, which allows EMTs and paramedics to leave the ambulance running while they provide patient care.
“The new devices provide an additional level of security for our patients and employees without impeding the quality or timeliness of our care,” said Ron Schwartz, president of Paramedics Plus and vice president and chief operating officer of East Texas Medical Center EMS.
Paramedics Plus and East Texas Medical Center EMS proactively pursued theft prevention measures after seeing stolen ambulances rise as an industrywide concern over the past few years. The device’s manufacturer, Tremco Police Products, originally designed the equipment for police vehicles, but modified the technology to be compatible with ambulances.
The device has been activated in 236 ambulances operated by East Texas Medical Center EMS in and around Tyler, Texas and by Paramedics Plus in Alameda County, California; Pinellas County, Florida; Fort Wayne, Indiana; and Sioux Falls, South Dakota