09/03/2026
đ **After a four-year wait, the first of our new ambulances has arrived at TCSEMS!**
We are excited to partner with Medix on these new units. While the ambulances themselves may look a little different from what youâre used to seeing, one of the biggest changes is an updated graphics package designed to carry TCSEMS into the future.
EMT Rick Polano originated the concept for the new design, and we couldnât be happier with the outcome. The goal was to carry forward elements of our traditional look while modernizing the design for both appearance and safety. We think it strikes a great balance between honoring where weâve been and where weâre headed.
We are also transitioning from the Ford E-350 chassis to the Ford F-450. The F-450 provides a platform better suited for the weight and demands placed on todayâs ambulances. Just as importantly, it allowed us to select a 4x4 chassis, giving our crews another tool to safely operate through the rapidly changing conditions of a Pittsburgh winter.
This is the first of three units that will be delivered over the next couple of weeks. The other two remain at Penn Care as we carefully transition permanently mounted equipment from the existing ambulances into the new units. A fourth will be delivered sometime in the coming months.
The final step is an inspection by EMS West and the application of the certification sticker that allows the ambulances to officially transport patients. We hope to have the first unit through that process early next week.
After four years of planning, waiting, and a lot of work behind the scenes, itâs exciting to finally see these trucks arriving.
**Keep your eyes peeledâyouâll be seeing them on the road soon! đ**
