Our Mission
At Gilpin Ambulance Authority, our mission is to enhance the welfare of our communities by upholding the highest standards of integrity, compassion, education, and innovation. We are dedicated to providing exceptional prehospital medical services, fostering trust and respect within the community, and continuously improving our practices through ongoing education and innovative solutions. Our commitment is to serve with excellence, ensuring the health and safety of every individual in our care.
Our Team
Our team is made up of experienced and highly trained EMTs and Paramedics who are dedicated to the safety and well-being of our patients. We come from many different backgrounds, but we all unite under one objective, providing high-quality care to our patients.
Our Communities
Gilpin Ambulance Authority proudly serves the City of Black Hawk, Central City, and Gilpin County in the beautiful State of Colorado.
History and Origins
Gilpin Ambulance Authority originated in 1969 as Gilpin County Search & Rescue. The population had dwindled since the conclusion of the 1859 gold rush, and Gilpin County had become a small mountain community. In 1991, a state-wide amendment established Gilpin County as one of two limited-stakes gaming districts in the State of Colorado. While the resident population of Gilpin County is just under 6,000, tens of thousands flock to more than 20 casinos in the cities of Black Hawk and Central City. This required the establishment of a paid ambulance service with round-the-clock coverage. Thus, Gilpin Ambulance Inc. was born. In 2009, the private agency Gilpin Ambulance Inc. was dissolved in favor of the governmental authority that exists today. Gilpin Ambulance Authority's three full-time ALS ambulances respond to approximately 2000 calls for service in and around Gilpin County each year. Our prehospital medical personnel are supported by three fire departments and five law enforcement agencies when responding to requests for service. We provide emergency medical services and medical training, preventative care, home visits, vaccinations, and other critical services to the residents and visitors of Gilpin County and the surrounding area.
Gilpin Ambulance Authority is the primary prehospital medical provider for all of Gilpin County. We also frequently respond to mutual aid calls in Boulder and Clear Creek Counties. We operate three full-time ambulances out of two stations. All three are staffed 24/7 with no less than an EMT and a Paramedic.
We have three shifts that work a 48-on / 96-off rotation. Each shift consists of three EMT positions, two Paramedic positions, one Field Training Officer position, and one on-duty Shift Captain. The Shift Captain responds to high-risk and critical incidents, performs management, administrative, and training functions, integrates with the command structure of partner agencies on larger incidents, and staffs the ambulance in the event of a staffing shortage.
We have a well-maintained frontline fleet of three Frazer Ambulances on Ford F450 and F550 chassis and a reserve fleet of three Wheeled Coach ambulances on Ford F450 chassis. All ambulances are equipped with liquid-spring suspension, 4-wheel drive, all-season tires, AutoSock traction devices, tire chains, and recovery equipment. Our Captains respond in a Ram 2500 that is equipped with ALS medications and equipment that allows them to initiate lifesaving care before the arrival of an ambulance.
We use Stryker Stair Chairs and Stryker PowerPro stretchers. Every ambulance has a power-load system that minimizes the need to lift patients. We carry Lifepak 15 monitors and recently added GlideScope Go2 Portable Video Laryngoscopes to each ambulance. We maintain preventative maintenance and service contracts for all equipment to ensure optimum performance and regularly replace items that have become worn or exceeded their recommended service life.
Our Patient Care Records are completed electronically using ESO EHR. Inventory is tracked using OperativeIQ, and payroll and benefits management is being transferred to iSolved Human Capital Management Software.