AMBUS

The Texas Emergency Medical Task Force (TX EMTF) is the response system developed by Regional Advisory Councils, the Department of State Health Services and local EMS and Hospital stakeholders to fulfill the need for short notice, emergency health care during a disaster or significant incident.

The TX EMTF is comprised of eight regional teams and a statewide coordinating entity, capable of activating pre-positioned regional resources on a state mission at the request of the Department of State Health Services or the Texas Division of Emergency Management, to support impacted areas with emergency medical infrastructure support. 

These eight regional teams, strategically located throughout the State of Texas, align with the Department of State Health Services Public Health Regions and are co-located with Regional Advisory Councils across the State.

UMC EMS is located in Texas Emergency Medical Task Force One (TX EMTF-1) and owns one of 16 AMBUSes statewide. The AMBUS is a state, regional, and a local resource with the primary mission of providing advanced medical transport and evacuation services for natural disasters. It is also used to provide firefighter rehabilitation and support of neonatal patients in isolettes.

It is a 24/7 mobile intensive care unit equipped with advanced medical monitoring equipment, medical oxygen and critical communications systems that can support up to 20 patients on cots, 24 seated patients, or a combination.

It is part of the mission of the Texas Department of State Health Services to create capabilities across the state for providing maximum first response services during mass-casually incidents, rapid medical facility evacuation, and on-site medical rehab for responders. In 2017, our AMBUS was deployed and played an integral role in evacuation efforts during Hurricane Harvey.