About

About

Here are a few links to specific roles within the Bella Vista Ambulance Service:

BELLA VISTA AMBULANCE SERVICE, INC. - A VITAL SERVICE IN BELLA VISTA

It all began back in 1974 on that notorious day that resulted with a large amount of rain that concentrated over the small Village of Bella Vista and resulted in Sugar Creek soon becoming a large fast-moving river. Four young men launched a canoe for an ill-fated ride that quickly ended in a near disaster. The Police Chief at the time, C. F. Bentley, along with Dave Brown rushed to the rescue. Shortly after this incident, Mr. Brown experienced a series of family emergencies that would put him in touch with medical officials who informed him of some available EMS training. This consequentially developed into the beginning of a vision that has grown into what we know today as the Bella Vista Ambulance Service, Inc. (BVAS).

This vision began with a group of Bella Vista residents meeting together and deciding that it was now time to have an EMS service locally in Bella Vista. Up to this time, when an emergency arose in the Village, the Bentonville Fire/EMS Department was called to handle the situation and care for those in need, but this required long wait time due to the distance from Bentonville to the patient location. Several of these Bella Vista individuals chose to attend CPR courses in Springdale and then tenaciously put in over 1200 volunteer hours at Washington Regional Center in Fayetteville in order to stabilize patients while waiting for an ambulance from Bentonville. It was at this time that "EMS, Inc." was formed and EMS, Inc. went to AARP for financial assistance in purchasing medical equipment. The corporation’s next task was to meet with the POA Board of Directors to impress upon them the need for such an ambulance service here in Bella Vista.

In 1976 EMS, Inc. was dissolved and the Bella Vista Ambulance Service was then formed. The Bella Vista Ambulance Service, Inc. is a non-profit corporation of the State of Arkansas, 501(c)3. A fund drive was started with the Federal matching of funds. A membership program was implemented and in September 1977 the first membership was written. This membership program is still a vital part of the success of the BVAS - now recognized as one of the best Advanced Life Support (ALS) Emergency Medical Services in Northwest Arkansas.

The Ambulance Service is still an independent non-profit organization funded by memberships and the proceeds collected via insurance billing reimbursements. There is not any financial support being received from the City, POA or from Benton County. The City of Bella Vista houses the ambulances along with their fire trucks within the fire department facilities. The personnel manning the ambulance and responding to EMS emergencies are also the same firemen (EMTs and Paramedics) responding to structure fires and other related emergencies. BVAS is the only emergency ambulance service in Bella Vista. When 9-1-1 is called, BVAS ambulances respond within minutes.

Today BVAS has 5 fully equipped ALS ambulances, and 22 full-time Paramedics and EMTs ready to respond 24/7, with each unit being equipped with the most up-to-date and state-of-the-art equipment on-board.

Anyone living within the Bella Vista Fire Department response area is eligible to be a member of the BVAS. When 9-1-1 is called, Police & Fire/EMS Emergency Dispatch will answer the call and send out an ambulance and other critical equipment to the scene with responding personnel providing the same excellent care regardless of an individual's membership status. The difference comes when the emergency response call is invoiced. If an individual is covered by the membership, then BVAS accepts what the insurance pays as "payment in full". The rest of the bill is then written-off. However, if an individual is not covered by the membership, they will receive a bill from BVAS for the amount the insurance company did not pay.

For a little over $0.10 cents a day a person can obtain a membership with the Bella Vista Ambulance Service. A membership covers everyone living in a household, and for a small additional amount, the membership will even cover anyone that may be visiting the household. The BVAS membership is invoiced on an annual basis.

For additional information regarding membership in the Bella Vista Ambulance Service, Inc. (BVAS), please call 479-855-4454 or stop by the business office at: 675 W. Lancashire Blvd (3.4 miles west of Town Center on Highway 340 W, behind the Village Center Shopping Complex).

Click here for contact page.