Biloxi names new ambulance service for the city

Biloxi has selected a new ambulance service provider for its citizens.

Pafford Medical Services was selected, the city announced today.

The city in June created a new emergency medical services district and requested proposals for ambulance service to address the specific needs of Biloxi residents and visitors.

Five proposals were received in October and Pafford EMS was selected. The contract is expected to be finalized in the next several days. It will then be presented to the Biloxi City Council for approval on Dec. 19.

Biloxi Fire Department has 168 firefighters and 10 stations across the city and responds to about 180 calls a week, with two-thirds of those being for medical emergencies, minor and major. Having a dedicated ambulance service will allow the department to work closely with EMS staff and create a system that can adapt over time, the city said in a press release.

Pafford EMS, with its Mississippi headquarters in the central part of the state, has been in service for more than 50 years with divisions in Arkansas, Oklahoma, Mississippi and Louisiana.

American Medical Response, or AMR, had had the contract for all of Harrison County prior to Biloxi creating its own district.