 Superior Ambulance Service, Inc. was started in 1964 by the Late, Walter D. Sullivan Jr. in Binghamton, New York, at a time when Emergency Medical Services was in its infancy. Specialized equipment, formalized training, and protocols were not even conceptualized until several years after Superior began providing first response services and ambulance transports to the residents and guests of Broome County.
During the late 1960s and early 1970s through the efforts of Mr. Sullivan and Dr. Patrick O'Hara many informal conversations lead to local, regional and state improvements in the Emergency Medical programs and overall care being provided to those in need. In a matter of months leaders and members of the healthcare community recognized the value and positive impact these services were having on patient outcomes. Many grass root movements emerged and several other commercial and volunteer EMS agencies began to form, not only locally, but throughout the State of New York. Many agencies used Superior as a benchmark for excellence and modeled their operations after this successful organization.
 Superior became one of the first providers of Advanced Life Support in the region. The blue and white Cadillac ambulances with "Heartmobile" in red letters soon became a regional sign of relief for patients and/or families experiencing a medical emergency. Superior facilitated the growth of these services by allowing other local agency volunteer members the opportunity to ride and train with Superior's employees on Superior's growing fleet.
Over the next 20 years Superior continued their leadership role in the community. As training was formalized Superior employees were often the first to complete new programs and continually raised the standard of care. Mr. Sullivan continually supported these initiatives and provided state of the art vehicles and equipment to support the needs of the system and his valued employees.
Until 1996, Superior's primary operating territory was Broome County. In October, Mr. Sullivan purchased Gray’s Ambulance Service in Norwich NY, expanding Superior's coverage area to include Chenango County. Superior provided these expanded services at a time when other companies were unable to survive in this rural market due to increasing expenses and decreasing reimbursement for the services provided. In the late Fall of 2007 after several years of financial loss, Superior discontinued Chenango County operations and returned its focus, attention, and resources on Broome County.
Today, Superior is the only commercial service in Broome County. Supporting the 911 activities of the City of Binghamton and the Binghamton Fire Department, Superior also provides additional support to the many volunteer agencies with in the county by participating in the Broome County Mutual Aid Plan. Superior also provides both scheduled and emergency ambulance transports between several local hospitals and residential nursing facilities. In addition, Superior is the leader in the provision of critical care - interfacility transports between the several local hospitals and medical centers across the Northeast.
 Operations are based out of an office/station on Exchange Street in Binghamton. This facility also houses our communications center. Current operations include 10 ambulances and 1 fly car which can be staffed 24 hours a day. 7 days a week for emergency and non-emergency transports as well as ALS assist services to BLS agencies as system requirements dictate. Superior also currently staff leases personnel to the Owego Fire Department in Owego, NY and provides specialized services with a bariatric transport vehicle.
Superior's state of the art fleet is monitored, maintained and replaced by the utilization of a complex fleet program, strict criteria, and competent oversight. All of vehicles are equipped with the latest in patient care equipment. All ambulances are staffed with minimum of two NYS certified Emergency Medical Technicians. Pulse oximetery monitors, IV therapy solutions, a full complement of medications, Physio Control LP10C and LP12 heart monitors that are capable of EKG monitoring, defibrillation, synchronized cardioversion, pacing, End Tidal C02 monitoring, Non Invasive Blood Pressure monitoring and 12 lead ECG are standard are examples of just some of the equipment carried. All of Superior's ambulances also carry Controlled Substances utilized and secured in accordance with NYS Department of Health policies, guidelines and statues.
Liliana Lo Faso, MD serves as the Agency Medical Director. We are part of the Susquehanna Regional Emergency Medical Services system. We have liberal protocols that allow our providers to perform most skills and administer most medications on standing orders. We communicate with our dispatchers and the hospitals on VHF and we also have cell phones in each ambulance, minimizing potential communication problems.
Superior Ambulance Service Inc. is a proud member of the United New York Ambulance Network, and supports and believes in the values of the organization of commercial ambulance services in New York State. We share the ideal of UNYAN’s mission statement: “ The purpose of the United New York Ambulance Network is to develop relationships between New York State Certified Ambulance Service providers, to enhance access to quality, affordable, and timely pre-hospital patient care services. The Network shall be committed to the advancement of the Emergency Medical System while maintaining the highest level of patient care.”
We take pride in providing quality patient care, exceptional customer service and overall excellence in EMS since 1964! |
