Mobile Health Service

Robert Wood Johnson's Mobile Health Service is made up of four main divisions: Basic Life Support (BLS), Advanced Life Support (ALS), Specialty Care Transport Unit (SCTU), and the Medical Communications Center (MedCentral). Click on the links below to learn more about each division.

Basic Life Support
Advanced Life Support
Specialty Care Transport Unit
Medical Communications Center

About Us

Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Mobile Health Service has been operational since January 1982. The department started after assuming responsibility for Advanced Life Support from the original pilot program operated by the New Brunswick Fire Department. The department has also provided BLS ambulance service to the City of New Brunswick since this time. Additional Advanced Life Support units were added to the system in 1983 (East Brunswick), 1989 (South Brunswick) and 2009 (Monroe).

In 1995, the department augmented the BLS ambulance service to handle hospital-based transports from RWJUH as well, and in 1996 added a Specialty Care Transport Unit (SCTU) for critical inter-facility transports. This SCTU is augmented by a specialty pediatric transport unit as well.

In 1999, RWJUH began providing primary 911 ambulance coverage in Hamilton Township, Mercer County, and in 2006 began providing 911 service in Piscataway and Franklin Townships. The department also provided 911 coverage in North Brunswick and Old Bridge for periods of time until those towns had operational municipal services.

In 2012, the department changed its name from Emergency Medical Service to Mobile Health Service to reflect the future of this profession as it expands in scope to provide numerous other services. In 2014, RWJUH merged with Somerset Medical Center, integrating both departments into a single comprehensive system. The merger added three peak daytime ALS units and nine peak daytime BLS units. This system added coverage area for ALS service across most of Somerset Counties, and BLS coverage in Manville, South Bound Brook, Bridgewater, Raritan, Far Hills / Bedminster, and Branchburg.

In 2014, RWJUH began a comprehensive redesign of Med Central, its EMS communications center. All elements of the center were improved, including expansion of the size from four to sixteen positions, adding state-of-the-art digital radios, improved telephones and computer aided dispatch (CAD) and other technologies.

RWJUH is also the central New Jersey lead agency for the New Jersey EMS Task Force, and serves as the home agency for the Central Planner, Mass Casualty Response Unit #5, and ASAP ambulance #5.

In 2014, RWJUH Mobile Health Service received the prestigious Outstanding Private EMS System award from the New Jersey EMS Council and the State of New Jersey, Department of Health, Office of EMS.

Patient Stories

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Patient Stories

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