Mercy Health, Physicians Ambulance form partnership

YOUNGSTOWN — Mercy Health has announced an expanded partnership with Physicians Ambulance Service, Inc., a 62-year-old, Ohio-based medical transport company.

The partnership will provide critical care, advanced life support, basic life support and wheelchair van services for select Mercy Health locations.

Physicians Ambulance has been providing services to Mercy Health — St. Joseph Warren Hospital since 2018.

Physicians Ambulance is a family-owned and operated company, now in its third generation, which focuses on clinical care. Utilizing proprietary software, the firm brings a data-driven approach to resource allocation and deployment, to increase on-time percentages and at the correct level of care for patient transport.

“We are fortunate to continue partnering with like-minded providers such as Physicians Ambulance,” said John Luellen, M.D., Market President, Mercy Health — Youngstown. “Our ministry has been committed to making health care easier and both the model as well as philosophy of care that Physicians Ambulance brings to the Valley further helps us deliver on that promise.”

Service includes Mercy Health’s St. Elizabeth Boardman and Youngstown hospitals, the St. Elizabeth Emergency & Diagnostic Center in Austintown, St. Joseph Urgent Care in Howland, St. Joseph Minor Emergency & Diagnostic Center in Warren, Hospice House, Assumption Village in North Lima and Humility House in Austintown.

“We are extremely excited to expand our work with Mercy Health into Youngstown and the surrounding communities," said Jason Hess, president, Physicians Ambulance. "When we seek to expand our service area, it has to make sense for both parties in order for the partnership to be successful."

Mercy Health and Physicians Ambulance will collaboratively manage the mobile intensive care units and critical care team.

Physicians Ambulance was founded in 1958 by Robert and Patricia Hess of Highland Heights. Their sons — Ron and Rob Jr. — purchased the company from them in 1988 and later sold the company in 1994 to a national provider.

Ron reopened as Physicians Medical Transport Team in 2001 and his second son Jason, entered the business in 2009. In 2016, as an ode to his grandparents, Jason restored the company name.

This story was originally published May 4, 2020 at 5:12 AM with the headline "Mercy Health, Physicians Ambulance form partnership."