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AMED recently bought and took delivery on an ambulance for $160,000.
In combination with a couple of vehicles on order, the purchase will not quite bring the organization's fleet up to an ideal number, according to Executive Director Gary Watters.
"But my stomach's not churning (at least)," Watters said at a meeting of the board.
If Watters hadn't seized the opportunity to take the newly delivered Medix, which sits atop a Chevrolet chassis, the next one available from Medix wouldn't have been delivered for 18 to 24 months, according to the Elkhart, Ind., manufacturer, Watters said.
AMED has struggled to maintain its fleet numbers since the supply chain disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Typically, the organization tries to buy three ambulances per year, Watters said.
Also typically, those replacements should occur after about seven years of use, he said previously.
Two ambulances replaced last year had about 250,000 miles each, according to Watters.
There are a couple of vehicles in the current fleet that are "nickel-and-diming us" due to the need for frequent repairs, Watters said.
The main difficulty in obtaining ambulances has been caused by manufacturers having trouble getting chassis, according to Watters.
Watters will be focusing now on a vehicle allocation for 2024.
AMED's fleet numbered 17 vehicles earlier this year.
Mirror Staff Writer William Kibler is at 814-949-7038.