Courtesy photo.
California faces highest TB rates in the Country; Ventura County EMS teams help close the gap
VENTURA COUNTY — As California continues to see significantly more cases of tuberculosis (TB) than any other state in the nation, a local partnership in Ventura County is being recognized for helping buck that trend. Thanks in part to the dedicated efforts of American Medical Response Ventura County (AMR) and Gold Coast Ambulance (GCA), Ventura County’s TB rates remain below the state average — earning the agencies the distinction of being named TB Elimination Heroes, Class of 2026.
The distinction, awarded by the California Tuberculosis Controllers Association (CTCA), recognizes the critical role these EMS agencies play in supporting treatment adherence and slowing the spread of TB in the community, demonstrating how their commitment and collaboration are making a measurable difference.
“AMR Regional Director Mike Sanders leads an exceptional team of EMS professionals in Ventura County who have operationalized innovative strategies to assist Ventura County Public Health TB Specialty Clinic in facilitating the work of the Directly Observed Therapy program,” said Ventura County Public Health Supervising Nurse Brittany Romane.
The Directly Observed Therapy program is a significant public health initiative that monitors for significant side effects from the numerous medications and helps TB patients adhere to their treatment, which may last up to a year. To maintain support during off-hours, clinicians from Gold Coast Ambulance (GCA) and American Medical Response (AMR) provide continuity of care and closely monitor patients for potential adverse effects.
AMR Regional Director Mike Sanders stated, “A decade ago, we engaged with the county to identify opportunities for collaboration as community partners and became aware of this need. We are pleased to contribute to the valuable work being undertaken.”
Since its inception in 2014, this collaborative approach has positively affected hundreds of community members, reflecting the strength and evolution of the partnership between Ventura County Public Health and local EMS.
“Their team partners with us during off hours — nights, weekends, and holidays — to ensure patients receive the care they need,” said Romane. “Despite barriers such as non-compliance, behavioral challenges or patients who are difficult to locate, they consistently go above and beyond to locate patients and ensure they receive treatment and monitoring they’re real heroes in our battle to mitigate TB.”
In her nomination submitted to the California TB Controllers Association, Romane noted that the EMS teams frequently collaborate with county staff, families and local law enforcement to locate patients and maintain continuity of care.
“Our role in the community extends beyond emergency response; we consider ourselves frontline healthcare providers,” adds Sanders. “We are deeply committed to the well-being of those we serve and view our responsibilities as vital to community health. Receiving this award affirms our dedication to this mission and is a point of pride for the team.”
The CTCA TB Elimination Heroes Award acknowledges people and organizations who have made significant progress in preventing and treating tuberculosis throughout California. This award not only highlights the commitment shown by AMR and GCA but also shows how effective local approaches and partnerships within communities can be. By continually overcoming obstacles and putting patient care first, these EMS teams truly embody the spirit of community heroes. They are setting new standards for public health teamwork and motivating others across California to take part in efforts to fight TB.
About American Medical Response (AMR)
American Medical Response, Inc., America’s leading provider of emergency medical services, provides mobile healthcare in 40 states and the District of Columbia. More than 28,000 AMR paramedics, EMTs, RNs and other professionals work together to care for more than 4.8 million patients nationwide each year in critical, emergency and non-emergency situations. For more information about AMR, visit www.amr.net or on Facebook and LinkedIn.
AMR is part of Global Medical Response, the largest air and ground emergency medical service provider in the United States. With 34,000 team members, the organization reaches more than 61% of the U.S. population, providing emergency medical care to 5.5 million patients annually and performing a critical intervention every 91 seconds. For over two decades, GMR’s Office of Emergency Management (OEM) has partnered with FEMA, DHS, HHS, state agencies, and private partners to deliver rapid, life-saving services during large-scale disasters, acts of terrorism, and public health emergencies, deploying over 80 times across all 10 FEMA regions. Its family of solutions includes ambulance EMS provider American Medical Response (AMR), as well as multiple air EMS organizations including Air Evac Lifeteam, REACH Air Medical Services, Guardian Flight, Med-Trans Corporation, and AirMed International. For?additional?information, visit?GMR at www.globalmedicalresponse.com, or on Facebook and LinkedIn.