Ask AI: What is the history of the American Medical response how did it start

The history of American Medical Response (AMR) can be traced back to its founding in 1992. AMR is a leading national private medical transportation company in the United States, providing emergency and non-emergency medical transportation services to individuals, communities, and healthcare facilities. AMR was created through the merger of several ambulance companies, primarily because of the vision of its founder, Paul Verrochi. Verrochi, a young entrepreneur with a background in transportation-related businesses, recognized the need to create a nationwide emergency medical transportation system, and he started acquiring several regional ambulance service providers. One of the key acquisitions in the formation of AMR was Rural Metro Corporation, which provided ambulance services in rural areas. Merging the ambulance companies into a single, unified organization, Verrochi aimed to standardize the quality of care provided to patients, improve upon the efficiency of ambulance operations, and reach a larger geographic footprint. Over the years, AMR has continued its expansion and growth by acquiring other ambulance service providers, enabling them to become a nationwide leader in medical transportation. Some significant acquisitions include the buyout of Vanguard Health Systems' ambulance operations in 2005 and the purchase of Rural/Metro Corporation in 2015. Today, AMR operates across 40 states and the District of Columbia, employing over 28,000 clinicians, support staff, and emergency medical technicians. AMR provides diverse services, including emergency and non-emergency transportation, air ambulance services, event medical services, managed transportation, and disaster response. AMR is committed to patient care, safety, and innovation in the medical transportation industry. They invest in state-of-the-art equipment, medical technologies, and professional education for their staff members to continually enhance patient outcomes and deliver high-quality care.