Is there room for a new air ambulance company in SOCAL?

[rotorEMS]

Is the market flooded in the San Diego/Los Angeles area for a new business operation? I have been working in Europe for some time and will be relocating to Souther California next year. Business is run differently here and I am wondering if opening my company with two EC-135's is worth it? Can I get any contracts with local hospitals and compete with the current companies in the market?

 

I am open to all comments/advice.

 

Thanks in advance.

[arotrhd]

Not completely saturated, but Mercy Air/Air M, REACH, Tri-State, Med-Trans (maybe) have pretty much taken the territory with community based models vs. contract/hospital doing the transfers and scene callouts. Helinet did specialized transport for Children's Hospital, but that was almost the exception. After that, you have public sector (city-county-state Fire, LE) taking care of specialized needs or locking in their own territories, or partnering with one of the above. The City of Upland/Fire partnered with REACH last year and they're doing OK, especially considering they are based in the middle of Mercy Air's home turf...or was their turf. That was a struggle with Upland's new chief knowing the ins and outs of the permit process + having the contacts. Any particular reason why SoCal?

 

Not impossible, but you'll need to have a pretty good business model with some innovation to present to somebody. Are the ships dedicated medical interiors?, or can they be set up for utility or other transport?

 

-WATCH FOR THE PATTERNS, WATCH FOR THE WIRES-

[JDHelicopterPilot]

My opinion. It is saturated.

 

 

San Diego Fire Department handles rescues in San Diego.

 

Mercy Air in El Cajon, Anahiem, Victorville, Mojave

 

REACH in El Centro, Upland, Lancaster

 

L.A. County Fire and L.A. County Sheriff dept handle all of L.A. County

[arotrhd]

JD - Sorry I didn't include CareFlight in the above list.

 

rotor - Also, Riverside SD handles the technicals for respective county, Kern handles theirs, San Bernadino & Orange have their FDs/Sheriffs air units for technicals, but the 2 counties have (had) a tight relationship with Mercy, as does Clark County/Vegas/15 corridor. Not sure about Imperial. Going to central Cali, CalStar has been actively moving southward from the bay area, along with REACH.

 

Yeah, things would appear to be saturated like a wet sponge, but maybe you have the AirMed version of Shamwow?

 

-WATCH FOR THE PATTERNS, WATCH FOR THE WIRES-

[Goldy]

Is the market flooded in the San Diego/Los Angeles area for a new business operation?

I am open to all comments/advice.

 

Thanks in advance.

 

My initial response is also yes, everything is handled. But thats what I have said about ambulance companies for 30 years, and new ones pop up and take contracts every year.

 

I suggest you take a deep look into the regulatory environment and what it takes to be an EMS operator in California.

 

I can recommend a 35 year veteran in EMS Air operations in the Los Angeles area should you want to talk to a local consultant "in the know". (not me!!)

[UNCphillips]

Anyone working for REACH or AirMethods in SoCal in this forum? If so I'd like to chat with you with a few questions.

[AMR/AAS Medic]

So, if I needed an air ambulance on a highway in Irvine, CA, or at a hospital in Irvine, CA who would likely handle that mission?

[arotrhd]

Depending on originating agency, and availability of air transport, it would likely Mercy Air (MA-4) out of Fullerton these days.

 

-WATCH FOR THE PATTERNS, WATCH FOR THE WIRES-

[Flying Pig]

Don't forget you also have the CA Highway Patrol. EMS and SAR is one of their primary missions. In fact, they will break from an LE call to handle an EMS run.