The Ouachita Council of Governments (OCOG), composed of government leaders from the parish and its municipalities, voted unanimously on July 23, 2018, to accept the recommendation of a committee tasked with issuing and evaluating an RFP for ambulance service throughout the parish.
“The RFP was quite comprehensive and I applaud OCOG for a very thorough, professional and well-managed RFP process,” said Acadian Chairman & CEO Richard Zuschlag.
Acadian is slated to begin operations in Ouachita Parish on January 1, 2019.
In addition to ground ambulances, Acadian will also begin air ambulance operations with a EC-135 rotary-wing aircraft. The helicopter, Acadian Air Med’s 10th aircraft, will be based in Monroe and provide 24/7/365 coverage to the area.
“Acadian hopes to transition the current ambulance provider’s employees into roles at Acadian,” Zuschlag said. The company will begin reaching out to those employees immediately and has set up a dedicated page for people interested in working at Acadian, which can be found at AcadianAmbulance.com/Ouachita.
In addition, Acadian is committed to assisting Delta Community College with their EMT and paramedic training programs. “Working with the current provider and with Delta, we hope to expand career and education opportunities for the citizens of Ouachita and surrounding parishes,” said Dr. Chuck Burnell, Acadian’s chief medical officer.
There is a nationwide shortage of trained EMTs and paramedics and many opportunities exist for people interested in the field of emergency and non-emergency medical transportation. “One of the concerns many business and governmental leaders shared with us was the desire to provide good career paths to their citizens. We are committed to working with local people and Delta to provide those career path opportunities,” Zuschlag added.
Acadian Ambulance is one of the largest ambulance services in the nation, offering emergency and non-emergency transportation to areas in Louisiana, Texas and Mississippi.
Since 1971, Acadian Companies has been dedicated to providing the highest level of emergency medical care and transportation possible. The company has expanded to include a diverse suite of services designed to offer the very best support and education in health, safety, security, education and transportation.
