About Us

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Bloomsburg Ambulance was established in 1957. Currently we  operate four Ambulances stationed at two locations as well as a training and administration center.  We respond to emergency calls dispatched by the East Central Emergency Network, which is the 911 center for Columbia and Montour County. We do not offer Non-Emergency scheduled services at this time.  

In 1999, Bloomsburg Volunteer Ambulance Association entered into a partnership with Greater Columbia Medical Transport Service. Bloomsburg Ambulance offers Basic Life Support Services (BLS), but with GCMTS, we are able to work with our partner to provide the highest level of care called "Advanced Life Support"(ALS).  MICU 61 is staffed with a Paramedic and an EMT, capable of providing Advanced Life Support. 'MICU' stands for Mobile Intensive Care Unit. Our partnership with GCMTS was formed to better serve the Bloomsburg Community and its surrounding areas. 

A common question, "What's the difference between ALS and BLS?" The answer is in the name...

ALS is Advanced Life Support and 

BLS is Basic Life Support

 ALS units are staffed with  a Paramedic, Pre-Hospital Register Nurse, or an ER Physician. An ALS unit is dispatched by a 911 Center based on the severity and type of emergency relayed to the 911 Center. 

BLS units are staffed with an EMT and along with an EMR (First Responder) or an EMT (Emergency Medical Technician). A BLS unit is summoned to lower level emergency calls, that may not warrant the dispatch of an ALS unit, based on the information a 911 center receives. 

In some cases, an ambulance of each type will be dispatched because of their location to provide faster care. In those cases a BLS unit will be dispatched to respond and begin care of the emergency patient until the ALS unit arrives, the BLS unit may begin transport to the closest ER or plan to meet at an intercept point to meet the ALS unit. 

NOTE: This may result in bills to your insurance from two services.