DRK Rettungsdienst Vorderpfalz

What DRK Rettungsdienst Vorderpfalz does

DRK Rettungsdienst Vorderpfalz GmbH is a German private limited company (GmbH) headquartered in Ludwigshafen, operating as the leading emergency medical services provider in the Vorderpfalz region of Rhineland-Palatinate under the Deutsches Rotes Kreuz (German Red Cross) brand. The company delivers statutory public-law rescue services, qualified medical patient transport, and patient transportation for mobility-impaired individuals across a service area covering approximately 620,000 residents in Ludwigshafen, Frankenthal, Speyer, Neustadt an der Weinstraße, and the Rhein-Pfalz-Kreis and Bad Dürkheim districts.

The service portfolio is built on a physical infrastructure of 11 rescue stations (Rettungswachen) and 7 emergency physician locations, a fleet comprising ambulances (RTW), emergency physician vehicles (NEF), intensive care transport vehicles (ITW), and patient transport vehicles (KTW), and the jointly-staffed Integrierte Leitstelle Ludwigshafen integrated control center that handles approximately 150,000 operations per year. Technical assets include the Convexis data transmission system, tablet-based electronic deployment documentation, the KatRetter location-based first-responder alerting app launched in October 2023, and the Telenotarzt telemedicine pilot project launched July 2023 at BG Klinik Ludwigshafen. The company also runs a 3-year Notfallsanitäter vocational training program (14 graduates certified August 2025), Federal Voluntary Service (BFD) and Voluntary Social Year (FSJ) programs, and participates in the ADAC-operated Christoph 5 air rescue helicopter station.

Revenue is generated through two primary channels: (1) public-law rescue service contracts with Rhineland-Palatinate state and regional authorities under the Landesrettungsdienstgesetz, and (2) statutory health insurance reimbursement under §60 SGB V for qualified patient transport with doctor's prescription, with patients paying a €5-10 co-payment per trip. Emergency response is accessed via the 112 number and patient transport via 19222. Strategic partnerships include BG Klinik Ludwigshafen (core medical partner), Berufsfeuerwehr Ludwigshafen (joint dispatch), ADAC Luftrettung (air rescue), and Fraunhofer IESE/DENIT (telemedicine R&D). Leadership consists of interim Managing Director Stephan Theis (since March 2022) and Prokurist Steven Pöselt, following the departure of Dr. Anna Meinhardt.

Name

DRK Rettungsdienst Vorderpfalz

Legal name

DRK Rettungsdienst Vorderpfalz GmbH

Website

https://rettungsdienst-vorderpfalz.de

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

DRK Rettungsdienst Vorderpfalz GmbH operates the leading statutory emergency medical and patient transport service in the Vorderpfalz region of Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany, serving approximately 620,000 residents via 11 rescue stations and an integrated control center handling 150,000 operations annually.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Emergency Medical Services

NAICS

Ambulance Services (62191), Ambulance Services (621910)

SIC

Services-Misc Health & Allied Services, Nec (8090), Services-Health Services (8000)

akta.pro primary industry

Private EMS Providers (Contract/Interfacility) (HLAFANAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Community Paramedicine & Mobile Integrated Healthcare (MIH/CP) Programs (HLAFANAI), Ambulance Fleet, Equipment & Logistics Services (HLAFANAN)

Keywords

• Emergency medical services
• Patient transport
• Rescue services
• Paramedic training
• Integrated dispatch

Headquarters

HQ city

Ludwigshafen

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices12 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Public Emergency Services Contracts: Statutory public-law rescue service contracted by state/regional government authorities under Rhineland-Palatinate's rescue service law (Landesrettungsdienstgesetz). Operates as the leading rescue service provider in the Vorderpfalz region covering cities of Ludwigshafen, Frankenthal, Speyer, Neustadt, and districts of Rhein-Pfalz-Kreis and Bad Dürkheim.
2. Statutory Health Insurance Reimbursement: Patient transport costs are reimbursed by statutory health insurers (§ 60 SGB V) based on a doctor's prescription. Patients pay a co-payment of 10% of transport costs (minimum €5, maximum €10 per trip). The company is a contracted partner of all major health insurers in Rhineland-Palatinate for patient transport services.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

DRK Rettungsdienst Vorderpfalz GmbH is the leading emergency medical services provider in the Vorderpfalz region of Germany, operating under the German Red Cross umbrella. It delivers 24/7 emergency rescue (Rettungsdienst) via the 112 emergency number, qualified patient transport (Krankentransport), and patient transportation (Patientenfahrdienst) for disabled and mobility-impaired individuals. The company supports operations with an integrated control center coordinating approximately 150,000 operations annually across 11 rescue stations and 7 emergency physician locations.

Product overview

DRK Rettungsdienst Vorderpfalz GmbH operates as the leading emergency medical service provider in the Vorderpfalz region, offering an integrated portfolio of rescue and transport services. The core offerings include emergency rescue (Rettungsdienst) via the 112 emergency number with rescue vehicles and emergency physicians, qualified medical transport (Krankentransport), and patient transportation (Patientenfahrdienst) for mobility-impaired individuals. The organization supports these operations with 11 rescue stations and an integrated control center (Integrierte Leitstelle) handling approximately 150,000 operations annually, plus air rescue via the Christoph 5 helicopter. Workforce development is served through 3-year emergency paramedic training (Notfallsanitäter Ausbildung), federal voluntary service (Bundesfreiwilligendienst), and voluntary social year programs (Freiwilliges Soziales Jahr). The company also operates a whistleblower protection system compliant with German law.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Christoph 5: Helicopter emergency medical service station in Ludwigshafen operated in partnership with ADAC Luftrettung

Products and services

• Rettungsdienst (Emergency Rescue Service) Emergency medical services providing immediate 24/7 response to life-threatening situations such as heart attacks, strokes, and serious accidents via the 112 emergency number. Rescue vehicles and emergency physicians are dispatched through the integrated control center.
• Krankentransport (Medical Transport) Qualified medical patient transport services as defined under §60 SGB V for insured patients with medical necessity, ordered by physicians, covering transport to and from medical treatments, ordered via 19222.
• Patientenfahrdienst (Patient Transportation Service) Transportation services for patients and disabled individuals in wheelchairs or transport chairs, including social support during transport and personal accompaniment to residences. Available as contracted partner of all major health insurers in Rhineland-Palatinate.
• Notfallsanitäter Ausbildung (Emergency Paramedic Training) 3-year dual vocational training program for emergency paramedics (Notfallsanitäter) conducted at schools, clinics, and training rescue stations, qualifying graduates for independent emergency patient care.
• Bundesfreiwilligendienst (Federal Voluntary Service) Legally structured voluntary social service year open to all age groups, with participants serving as emergency paramedics with free training provided, supporting career development toward emergency paramedic certification.
• Freiwilliges Soziales Jahr (Voluntary Social Year) Structured social year for young people aged 18–27 offering practical work in emergency services or patient transport with personality-building seminars, providing insights into emergency medical careers.
• Integrierte Leitstelle (Integrated Control Center) 24/7 emergency dispatch center coordinating public-law rescue services in the Vorderpfalz region and initial alarm and deployment coordination for civil protection forces, handling approximately 150,000 operations annually.
• Christoph 5 (Air Rescue Helicopter Service) Air rescue helicopter service based at Ludwig-Guttmann-Str. 13, Ludwigshafen, providing emergency medical evacuation and rapid response transport, operated in partnership with ADAC Luftrettung with DRK staff working alongside ADAC at the helicopter base.
• Rettungswachen (Rescue Stations Network) Network of 11 rescue stations and 7 emergency physician locations distributed across the Vorderpfalz region from Lambrecht to Ludwigshafen and Speyer to Grünstadt, providing 24/7 emergency response coverage with rescue ambulances, emergency physician vehicles, intensive care transport vehicles, and patient transport vehicles.
• KatRetter App (First-Responder Alert System) Location-based alert system that automatically notifies registered, trained first responders to acute life-threatening emergencies (e.g., cardiac arrest) to provide rapid assistance before ambulance arrival.
• Telenotarzt (Tele-Physician Consultation Service) Telemedicine consultation system enabling remote physician guidance to paramedics in the field, launched as the first Telenotarzt center in Rhineland-Palatinate at BG Klinik Ludwigshafen.

Quantifiable outcome

• Statutory health insurance covers patient transport costs with doctor's prescription

Named customers1 record

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• BG Klinik Ludwigshafen (BG Unfallklinik)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBG Klinik Ludwigshafen is the primary partner for the Telenotarzt (tele-physician) pilot project in Rhineland-Palatinate, hosting the first Telenotarzt center. The hospital is the location of Rettungswache RW21's NEF and provides emergency physicians for the Christoph 5 helicopter base. The DRK is also a close partner in the SWR documentary 'Die Unfallklinik'. The BG Klinik and DRK jointly launched the first paramedic training class at the hospital in September 2023, with plans for a Berufsakademie (professional academy).
• ADAC Luftrettung gGmbH (Christoph 5)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerChristoph 5 is the air rescue helicopter based at Ludwig-Guttmann-Str. 13, Ludwigshafen. DRK staff work alongside ADAC Luftrettung at the helicopter base. The helicopter is mentioned in joint news coverage and public events including the Fiaccolata 2024 relay.
• Arbeiter Samariter Bund (ASB)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorThe NEF (emergency physician vehicle) at Rettungswache Grünstadt is alternately staffed together with Arbeiter Samariter Bund (ASB), sharing operational responsibility for the emergency physician vehicle at that location.
• Berufsfeuerwehr Ludwigshafen (Professional Fire Department)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Integrierte Leitstelle Ludwigshafen is jointly staffed by the professional fire department Ludwigshafen (dispatching fire services) and paramedics from aid organizations. DRK provides the majority of dispatchers and is responsible for training and continuing education of all colleagues. The joint control center handles approximately 150,000 operations annually.
• SWR (Südwestrundfunk)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerSWR produced the documentary 'Die Unfallklinik' (The Trauma Clinic), which featured DRK Rettungsdienst Vorderpfalz personnel for two weeks of filming, providing significant public visibility and community outreach impact.
• Deutsches Rotes Kreuz (DRK) Landesverband Rheinland-PfalzcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAs a wholly-owned subsidiary of DRK Landesverband Rheinland-Pfalz, the company operates under the DRK brand, utilizes DRK training institutes (DRK-Bildungsinstitut Mainz) for paramedic education, and participates in the broader DRK volunteer network, disaster relief, and first aid training programs across the state.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• ADAC Luftrettung: Operator of the Christoph 5 air rescue helicopter based at Ludwigshafen, where DRK staff work alongside ADAC crews. Comparable in emergency-medicine delivery, though focused on HEMS rather than ground EMS.

Direct peers

• Malteser Hilfsdienst: Major German aid organization providing emergency medical services, patient transport, and rescue operations across federal states. Operates comparable statutory EMS contracts and competes directly for tendered Bezirk coverage in Rhineland-Palatinate.
• RKT GmbH (Rettungsdienst-Krankentransport): Private-sector German EMS and patient transport operator with multi-regional presence. Provides a for-profit comparison point against the DRK-affiliated, contract-based model that DRK Rettungsdienst Vorderpfalz operates.
• Arbeiter-Samariter-Bund Deutschland (ASB): National aid organization delivering EMS and patient transport; explicitly named as a partner sharing the Grünstadt emergency physician vehicle with DRK Rettungsdienst Vorderpfalz. Competes for the same statutory EMS and patient transport contracts in the region.
• DRK Rettungsdienst Rhein-Main: Sister DRK subsidiary providing EMS and patient transport in the adjacent Rhein-Main region. Closely comparable in business model, regulatory environment, and DRK parent affiliation, making it the most directly analogous peer for benchmarking.
• Falck Deutschland (formerly Rettungsdienst Kooperationspartner): International private EMS operator with German ground ambulance and patient transport operations. Comparable in contract-based private EMS model, though with a much broader national footprint than DRK Rettungsdienst Vorderpfalz.
• Johanniter Unfallhilfe: Germany-wide aid organization operating ambulance, patient transport, and rescue services under a humanitarian mandate analogous to DRK. Johanniter runs similar public-law EMS contracts and competes for the same regional tenders as DRK Rettungsdienst Vorderpfalz.

Regional players

• Berufsfeuerwehr Ludwigshafen: Municipal fire department jointly staffing the Integrierte Leitstelle Ludwigshafen with DRK. Performs emergency response coordination in the same geography; relevant comparator for dispatch-side operations and a co-funding partner rather than a pure commercial competitor.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/roteskreuz_de
• Facebookfacebook.com/drkrettungsdienstvorderpfalz
• Instagraminstagram.com/drk.rettungsdienst.vorderpfalz

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about DRK Rettungsdienst Vorderpfalz