01/15/2026
🚑 Ambulance Transport Clarification🚑
There seems to be some confusion regarding patients dictating where our ambulance must transport them. We’d like to clarify how this works.
Under New Jersey EMS standards, ambulances transport patients to the closest appropriate emergency department based on medical need.
Patient preference alone, including “I always go there” or “my doctor is there” does not require EMS to go to a farther hospital. A good example of this is if you fall and hurt your ankle, just because your cardiologist is at a specialty hospital does not mean that is the closest appropriate facility for your current issue.
For most emergencies, that means you will be transported to our area hospitals; Old Bridge Medical Center, Bayshore Medical Center or Raritan Bay Medical Center in Perth Amboy depending on your geographic location. All three are fully capable, state certified emergency departments.
As the EMS provider for our 1.5 square mile town, unnecessary long transports can leave our residents without an available ambulance for the next emergency that arises. That could cost someone their life.
🚨 When specialty care is medically required (Certain stroke calls & cardiac calls, major trauma, burns, maternity, etc.), patients are transported to the appropriate specialty center along side Advance Life Support (Paramedic) services. Which are usually Jersey Shore, Robert Wood Johnson, or JFK.
If there is no medical need to go farther, options include:
• Closest appropriate hospital by ambulance
• Private vehicle
• Declining ambulance transport
This is legal, medically appropriate, and standard across New Jersey EMS.
Thank you for supporting us, in our efforts to provide the best care possible for all our residents.
