Westchester Emergency Medical Services (WEMS) began serving Westchester County, New York on July 31, 2000. WEMS was created when the former Westchester Ambulance Service, Inc. was sold to the Healthstar Network, Inc. dba Stellaris Health Network.

     The primary goal of WEMS is to provide stellar pre-hospital and interfacility care. As the ONLY not-for-profit hospital based EMS provider in Westchester County, quality and compassionate patient care is our primary motivation.

    On September 1, 2000, WEMS began providing Advanced Life Support (ALS) care to the Westchester County communities of Bedford, Lewisboro, Mount Kisco, New Castle, North Castle, North Salem, Pound Ridge and Somers. Strategically located throughout the area, Paramedics utilize quick response vehicles (flycars) to respond to emergencies in the largest flycar system in the county.

     On September 11, 2001, WEMS joined with many other emergency services from throughout the county to respond to the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center in New York City. In the hours and days after the attacks, WEMS treated and transported patients from "Ground Zero" to area hospitals, as well as transporting several injured firefighters from hospitals upon discharge.

     On June 1, 2002, WEMS began working with the Somers Volunteer Fire Department, providing dispatching and communications services. Our Dispatch Center, located in Lincolndale, operates a secondary Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) for the Westchester County 911 System and coordinates emergency and non-emergency transportation for the WEMS system.

    On December 8, 2003, WEMS completed the installation of a new state-of-the-art radio and communications system. Complete with Computer Aided Dispatching (CAD) and Global Positioning System (GPS) technology, we are able to dispatch the closest appropriate unit to a call and communicate better with the communities and agencies we serve.

    In early 2004, in an effort to better serve our patients and the Stellaris Healthcare Network we began strategically positioning our transport units at our facilities. With stations at Lawrence Hospital Center, Phelps Memorial Hospital Center, White Plains Hospital Center and our Headquarters located next to Northern Westchester Hospital, we are able to deploy ambulances to calls more quickly and efficiently than ever before.

    Since its creation, Westchester Emergency Medical Services has enjoyed a steady expansion. In early 2004, we doubled the size of our ambulance fleet with the purchase of four (4) new AEV TraumaHawk Type-II Ford van ambulances. In November 2004, we placed two (2) new Ford Expedition flycars into service in Northern Westchester to continue serving the residents of the area.