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The upgrades would include 65 new ambulances plus new gurneys, cardiac monitors and compression devices. The city also would regain control of some facilities now occupied by American Medical Response.
But perhaps more importantly, the contract would allow enforceable penalties for slow response times, which has previously been a problem in some San Diego communities south of state Route 94.
“The current contract does not have protections against extremely long response times, which represent significant delay in patient care and transport, with possible adverse outcomes,” Stowell said.
AMR said in response that it would also make all the upgrades cited by Chief Stowell because they are requirements demanded by the city last year when it solicited proposals to handle its ambulance service.