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Bell's Ambulance Service

Update: January 4th, 2022

To: Citizens of Sonoma County
From: Pamela Bell Simmons
RE: Contract for Exclusive Operating Area

Sonoma County Fire District has initiated legal action against the County of Sonoma for control of Emergency Medical Services in Sonoma County. We do not agree with this action. Sonoma County Supervisors, Sonoma County Health Department and Sonoma County Emergency Medical Services Agency are doing what is best for our neighbors and citizens of Sonoma County. We have been working with these agencies for nearly two decades to find ways to improve the services we provide. Recently Bell's Ambulance Service was awarded an exclusive operating area to allow for longer term investments, more control by Sonoma County Emergency Services and parameters that benefit those we care for. We have been assured by Sonoma County Administrators that our contract will be awarded.We support all our first responder agencies, our local government and most importantly our citizens and will continue to provide the best service we can for emergency medical care and transport of the sick and injured.

We do not receive tax dollars for our service.We only charge for those who use our service at reimbursement rates set by government agencies and insurers. Bell's Ambulance Service simply wishes to continue to provide the same medical care and transport service we have to our neighbors for the past 65 years. We hope to continue working with Sonoma County to deliver services to the citizens as we always have.

Article from SoCo News...

The Sonoma County Fire District and the California Fire Chiefs Association, Inc. filed a joint lawsuit against the County of Sonoma late last month after the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors approved an agreement on Nov. 16 that would allow Bell's Ambulance to stay operational via the creation of an Exclusive Operating Area (EOA). The two entities have turned to litigation because they claim they were not afforded the chance to have a hearing with the county to be able to weigh in on the matter, which according to Sonoma County Fire District Chief Mark Heine, breaks the county's own emergency medical services (EMS) ordinance and state law.

Link to Full Article on SoCoNews.org

Update: November 16, 2021

Several months ago, our Sonoma County Supervisors supported the local Emergency Medical Service Agency to enter a contract with Bell's Ambulance to secure an exclusive operating area. We are honored to be of continued service to our neighbors together with some of the finest first responders and fire agencies in Sonoma County. We appreciate the Supervisors who unanimously pledged their support for the Bell's Ambulance Service contract on March 23, 2021, during the County Board of Supervisors meeting. We particularly appreciate Supervisor Gore's support and leadership as well as that of Senator Mike McGuire who has monitored and helped lead us thru this process to ensure that our neighbors have the best emergency medical care possible. Most of all, thank you to our local businesses and community who have supported us for over 6 decades. We are honored and humbled.

To witness the result of your outspoken support of Bell's Ambulance Service, please virtually attend the 11.16.21, Sonoma County Board of Supervisors Meeting, during which the 911 Emergency Ambulance Services with Advanced Life Support Transport Agreement for Bell's Ambulance Service, will be voted on.

Thank you once again for your continued support.

Link to Board of Supervisors Agenda
(The Bell's contract will be Item 26 on the Consent Calendar.)

Update: April 22nd, 2021

Thank you to the thousands of citizens, neighbors and friends for taking their time to write, call, e-mail, sign the Loriann petition and attend the Board of Supervisors meetings on behalf of Bell's Ambulance Service. We remain successful in our endeavor to be of continued service to our communities due to your kind words, and unwavering support as well as that of Supervisor Gore.

Your success is our success as we look forward to resuming contract negotiations with the County for our rural response area.

Update: March 26th, 2021

Thanks to our friends, neighbors and community, our supervisors unanimously agreed to support Bell's Ambulance Service and continue discussions. We have agreed to a contract as requested. The final vote is scheduled for April 13th and we will continue to need your support for this meeting.

What's Happening

This Tuesday, March 23rd, the Board of Supervisors is considering a proposal to absorb the areas including Healdsburg, Windsor, and Geyserville into the larger Santa Rosa service area for transport and emergency medical needs. This would likely decrease services, increase costs and possibly increase taxes. The merging of the service area would exclude Bell's from being able to service our community and thus put a local, 7-decade resource, and our neighbor, out of business.

Two generations of Bells have been your trusted provider in times of injury and illness, supporting you when you needed it most. With your support, we hope to continue serving your community.

Why It Matters To You

Bell's Ambulance and the Bell family live and work locally. They donate their time and resources to help benefit the community. During disasters such as our recent fires, Bell's put up 5 ambulances for weeks to make sure firefighters, and the community, had paramedics whenever needed without financial compensation. Moving to a large bureaucracy would change the character of the services the community receives.

Bell's currently employs an exceptional roster of EMTs and Paramedics with more experience than most agencies. They choose to work with the Bell family due to the focus on quality patient care and community involvement.

Bell's is not only one of our most important businesses but they are a solid part of our community and we want their service to continue.