High-Risk Ambulance
(HRA)
Overview
There are three High-Risk Ambulance (HRA) providers within Los Angeles County. They are Falck Ambulance, McCormick Ambulance, and AMR Ambulance. HRAs are Los Angeles County and Region 1 State assets that are utilized to safely transport highly-infectious special pathogen patients who are confirmed or suspected of having an emerging infectious disease. The unique design of the HRAs allows for safe and proper containment, decontamination, and transportation of special pathogens. The HRAs are dispatched through the LA County EMS Agency and respond within 60 minutes from notification. There are six units available for mutual aid requests.
Please contact Nnabuike Nwanonenyi at (562) 378-2460 or nwanon@dhs.lacounty.gov if you have any questions or require additional information about the HRAs.
HRA Locations
HRA 101 - Falck - Santa Fe Springs (Los Angeles County)
HRA 102 - Falck - Orange (Orange County)
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HRA 103 - McCormick - Compton (Los Angeles County)
HRA 104 - McCormick - Compton (Los Angeles County)
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HRA 105 - AMR/Gold Coast - Oxnard (Ventura County)
HRA 106 - AMR - Lancaster (Los Angeles County)
HRA Features
Driver and patient compartment separated with steel bulkhead, welded and caulked
Separate high-capacity air conditioning units for driver and patient compartment – will keep personnel in Level C isolation PPE (PAPRs/suits) comfortable
Patient compartment has negative pressure, HEPA filters with UV light disinfection for the air intake and exhaust.
Tablet mount for receiving facility to monitor patient/team by video
Intercom and patient status lights to communicate between driver and patient compartment
Medical team seats swivel for patient access
Molded seats for easy disinfection
No shelves/cabinets for easy disinfection – medical equipment will be brought in bags
May be utilized for in home evaluation teams
HRA Highlights
Portable UV light disinfection system with luminometer, and SteraMist with Binary Ionization solution (ionized hydrogen peroxide) are available for post-incident decontamination
Purchased with Los Angeles/Long Beach UASI Homeland Security Grant Funds to transport potential or confirmed highly infectious or contaminated patients
California Region 1 Asset
HRA Flyer
HRA Flyer 2023.docxHRA Provider EID Resources
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EMS Ambulance Cleaning and Disinfection: Proper cleaning and disinfection of the ambulance after transporting a patient suspected or confirmed to have an HCID
EMS Ambulance Modification Procedure: Modifying an ambulance to protect environmental surfaces and EMS personnel from exposure to potentially infectious body fluids when transporting a patient confirmed to have an HCID
EMS Ambulance Operations High-Consequence Infectious Disease Waste Management: Managing waste resulting from the transport and care of a patient suspected or confirmed to have an HCID
EMS Biohazard Spill: Managing a biohazard spill, including gross contamination with blood, vomit, or diarrhea.
EMS PPE Breach: High-Consequence Infectious Disease (HCID) Patient Transport: Assessment and management of a PPE breach when caring for a patient suspected or confirmed to have an HCID
EMS Provider Down Procedure: Assessment and management of an EMS clinician who has become incapacitated while wearing a PPE ensemble
Model PPE Donning and Doffing Procedure for Confirmed or Suspected VHF Case with Active Bleeding, Vomiting, or Diarrhea: Proper donning and doffing of a PPE ensemble for prehospital personnel managing a patient confirmed to have a Viral Hemorrhagic Fever (VHF), or a patient suspected to be infected who has active bleeding, vomiting, or diarrhea
Model PPE Donning and Doffing Procedure for Suspected VHF Case without Active Bleeding, Vomiting, or Diarrhea: Proper donning and doffing of a Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) ensemble for prehospital personnel managing a patient without active bleeding, vomiting, or diarrhea who is suspected to have a Viral Hemorrhagic Fever (VHF)