Question

Provide an Extensive description of the Ambulance/Emergency Services Industry as a whole (Include the External Organizational Environment). Share some history on the industry and how it has evolved over the years.

Answer 1

Ambulance Services Industry provides emergency services to patients out of hospital, also provides medical transport to severely injured and critical condition patients. The main purpose of ambulance service is to provide medical service to patients who are serious or timely shifting of patients to other point of special care.

The first ambulance which was used in battle, designed by Dominique Jean Larrey, who was Napoleon Bonaparte's chief surgeon. In the last of 19th century the first motorized ambulance was dedicated to human service. Before World War II, modern ambulances were used to carry medical equipment. At that time some of the large cities are provided with ambulance services by hospitals. Due to large number of war injured people, it was very difficult to manage ambulance service with a limited number of hospital staffs. So the govt. handed over this service to police and fire department. After World War II a tremendous improvement was made in the ambulance service industry.

Ambulance service industry has evolved over the years and nowadays various organizations provide ambulance services at their best. They take utmost care to provide fast service with required madical equipments.

1) Govt. Ambulance Service: In some countries govt. ambulance services are found in big cities, which are funded by local or national govts. They provide 24hrs. service to patients who need urgent medical service.

2) Fire or Police Ambulance Service : In many countries like US, Japan, France and some parts of India, where ambulance service is provided by the local fire or police department. Many police and fire officers have basic medical training which is helpful for carrying ambulance service.

3) Volunteer Ambulance Service : There are non-profit organizations who are rendering ambulance service to the needy patients. For exa, The Red Cross Society provides ambulance service in some parts of the world.

4) Private Ambulance Service : Private ambulance service is provided by some of the private organizations who are either funded by govt. or some other organizations. Sometimes they charge a nominal fee from the patient's family if they are not financially supported by any organization. These ambulances are available 24hr of a day.

5) Hospital Ambulance Service: Hospitals provide ambulance service to their patients or to a community where the ambulance service is unreliable. They provide free service or sometimes charge a nominal amount for transporting outside patients to other hospitals.

However, the basic motto of all types of ambulance service is to provide first aid and quick transport facility to hospital.