Medical Express Ambulance Service

What Medical Express Ambulance Service does

Medical Express Ambulance Service (MedEx) is a Chicagoland-based, founder-owned private ground ambulance and medical transport operator founded in February 1998 by Lauren Rubinson. Headquartered at 5650 Howard St, Skokie, IL, the company runs a fleet of more than 80 ambulances and service vehicles across three stations (Skokie headquarters, Chicago South Loop, and Mokena) and executes over 200 patient transports per day, 24/7, through an EMD-certified communications center. Service tiers span Basic Life Support (BLS), Advanced Life Support (ALS), Critical Care with and without registered nurses (including IABP and ventilator-dependent transport), wheelchair van/Medicar, and the Swedish Courtesy Van non-emergency program, plus special-event medical standby for organizations including the Chicago Park District, Chicagoland Special Olympics, and the J.P. Morgan Corporate Challenge.

The technology stack is operationally differentiated rather than AI-driven: MedEx claims to be the first ambulance service in the nation to implement computer-aided dispatch with integrated on-board computers and GPS/navigation, and the first to use telemedicine in the ambulance for helicopter-to-ground communication (co-developed with UCAN). Fleet equipment includes Stryker Power-LOAD stretcher systems and Zoll X-Series cardiac monitors. The company also operates an in-house Education Department providing EMT and paramedic training, continuing education, AHA certifications, and a free EMT program functioning as a structural talent pipeline.

Revenue is generated on a per-transaction (fee-for-transport) basis through contracted relationships with hundreds of healthcare facilities — including Lurie Children's Hospital, University of Chicago Medicine, UI Health, Swedish Hospital (NorthShore), and Kindred Hospitals — plus air-ambulance ground support for UCAN and event standby contracts. No external funding rounds, M&A activity, or parent company are present; the company remains independently owned and operated under founder-CEO Lauren Rubinson, with COO Michael F. Pieroni and Medical Director Jeremy Lott, DO, on the leadership team. The 2023 Vanguard Award from the American Ambulance Association to Rubinson and a 2020 COVID-19 response program that transported hundreds of COVID-positive patients mark the most recent publicly visible operational milestones.

Name

Medical Express Ambulance Service

Legal name

Medical Express Ambulance Inc.

Website

https://medexambulance.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1998

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Medical Express Ambulance Service is a Chicagoland private ground ambulance and medical transport operator, founded 1998, running 80+ ambulances across Skokie, Chicago, and Mokena to deliver BLS, ALS, critical care, and non-emergency transport under contract with hospitals and event organizers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Medical Transportation Services

NAICS

Ambulance Services (62191), Special Needs Transportation (485991)

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

Interfacility Transport (IFT) & Patient Transfer Services (HLAFANAF), Critical Care Transport (CCT) & Specialty Transport Teams (HLAFANAE), Medical / Assisted Transport (Non-Emergency) (THADAEAJ), Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Operations & Dispatch (HLAJAGAC)

Keywords

• Ambulance transportation
• Medical transport services
• Emergency medical services
• Non-emergency medical transport
• Critical care transport

Headquarters

HQ city

Skokie

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Emergency Medical Transportation: Emergency ambulance transport services for 911 responses and emergency situations requiring Advanced Life Support (ALS) or Basic Life Support (BLS).
2. Non-Emergency Medical Transportation: Scheduled medical transport services including wheelchair van, courtesy van, and medicar services for patients requiring transport between healthcare facilities or to/from appointments.
3. Critical Care Transport: Specialized critical care transport with RN and paramedic teams for ventilator-dependent patients, IABP transports, and patients requiring advanced monitoring and IV medication infusions.
4. Special Event Medical Standby: Medical standby services for large events including Chicago Park District events, Chicagoland Special Olympics, and J.P. Morgan Corporate Challenge.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Medical Express Ambulance Service provides emergency and non-emergency medical transportation across the Chicagoland area. The company operates a fleet of more than 80 ambulances and conducts over 200 transports per day, offering Basic Life Support, Advanced Life Support, Critical Care, Critical Care with RN, wheelchair-accessible Medicar service, Courtesy Van non-medical transport, special-events standby coverage, and a 24/7 Communications Center for dispatch. Customers include hospitals, healthcare facilities, individual patients, and event organizers.

Product overview

Medical Express Ambulance Service (MedEx) operates as a multi-tiered ambulance and medical transport service in the Chicagoland area. The company offers a unified portfolio centered around ground ambulance transport across three service levels: Basic Life Support (BLS) for basic emergency care, Advanced Life Support (ALS) for advanced interventions including IV therapy and cardiac monitoring, and Critical Care Services (with and without RN) for intensive transport of critically ill patients. Supporting the ambulance core are non-emergency transport options including Medicar wheelchair van services and Courtesy Van programs, a 24/7 Communications Center with EMD-certified dispatchers, and an Education Department providing EMT training, continuing education, and certification courses. The company also provides Special Events medical stand-by services. With over 25 years of operation, a fleet exceeding 80 vehicles, and partnerships with major healthcare facilities including Lurie Children's Hospital, University of Chicago Medicine, and Swedish Hospital, MedEx delivers over 200 patient transports daily across the Chicagoland region.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Basic Life Support (BLS)
• Advanced Life Support (ALS)
• Critical Care Transport
• Critical Care with RN
• Medicar Service
• Courtesy Van Service
• Special Events Coverage
• Education and Training Programs
• 24/7 Communications Center

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 200 patient transports per day
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• UCAN (University of Chicago Aeromedical Network)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2010MedEx provides ground ambulance services for UCAN when helicopter transport is not possible or practical. UCAN is staffed by dedicated flight nurses, EMS pilots and communication specialists ready to respond 24/7. MedEx CEO Lauren Rubinson partnered with UCAN to develop advanced ambulance technology for communication between airborne helicopters and ground ambulances.
• Lurie Children's HospitalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMedEx played an integral role in moving the entire patient population of Children's Memorial Hospital to Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago. Transported 127 patients during the 2012 Lurie Move Day. Continues to provide ongoing transport services.
• Swedish Hospital (NorthShore)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing relationship beginning in 2001. Swedish Hospital is part of NorthShore University HealthSystem. CEO Lauren Rubinson served on the Swedish Covenant Hospital Foundation Board from 2007 and helped raise over $800,000 for the Women's Health Initiative.
• Chicago Park DistrictmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMedEx is the contracted medical services provider for the Chicago Park District, providing medical standby and first aid services for park district events and facilities.
• Chicagoland Special OlympicsmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMedEx is the contracted medical services provider for the Chicagoland Special Olympics, providing medical standby services during athletic events.
• J.P. Morgan Corporate ChallengemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMedEx has provided medical standby service for the J.P. Morgan Corporate Challenge since 2009. The J.P. Morgan Corporate Challenge is the world's largest corporate running event and MedEx provides medical care on hand.
• St. Francis Hospital EMS SystemcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMedEx is a member of the St. Francis Hospital Emergency Medical Services (EMS) System. St. Francis has been an EMS resource hospital for more than 4 decades, representing 7 communities, 3 private providers and 2 non-transport agencies. Provides EMT-Paramedic Training and continuing education.
• Ascension HealthcarecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMedEx operates under Region 10 EMS System affiliated with Ascension (St. Francis Hospital). Sara Van Dusseldorp serves as EMS System Coordinator and Paramedic Program Director for Region 10 through Ascension.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves11 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• American Medical Response (AMR): AMR is the largest private ambulance service provider in the United States, operating a nationwide network providing 911 response, interfacility transport, and critical care services. Highly comparable to MedEx in core offerings (BLS, ALS, CCT) but vastly larger scale and PE-backed (owned by Global Medical Response).
• Falck USA: Falck is one of the largest international ambulance operators (Danish parent), with U.S. operations providing 911 EMS, interfacility, and critical care transport in multiple states. Comparable service portfolio to MedEx, though backed by a global corporate parent rather than founder ownership.
• Air Methods Corporation: Air Methods is the largest air medical transport provider in the U.S., operating helicopter and fixed-wing EMS services. MedEx is a current ground-support partner for UCAN (University of Chicago's air ambulance program), and Air Methods is comparable as a high-acuity critical care transport operator.

Direct peers

• Superior Air-Ground Ambulance Service: Superior is one of the largest privately owned ambulance services in the Midwest, offering emergency and non-emergency transport, critical care, and special event services across Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin, and Michigan. Highly comparable to MedEx given its Midwest footprint and overlapping Chicagoland service area.
• Priority Ambulance: Priority Ambulance is a privately held, multi-state private ambulance operator founded in 2014 offering BLS, ALS, critical care, and non-emergency medical transport. A direct comparable as a regional consolidator of contract and interfacility EMS contracts similar to MedEx.
• Sunstar Paramedics: Sunstar is a private ambulance and paramedic services provider in Florida offering emergency, non-emergency, and interfacility transport services. Comparable to MedEx in offering tiered life support and interfacility transfers under hospital and health system contracts.
• Acadian Ambulance Service: Acadian is a privately held, multi-state ambulance and medical transport company headquartered in Louisiana, offering ground ambulance (BLS/ALS), critical care transport, and non-emergency services across the Gulf South and beyond. Closely comparable to MedEx's multi-tier service model and founder-driven private company structure.
• Abbott Ambulance Service: Abbott is a privately held ambulance service in the St. Louis metro area offering emergency and non-emergency transport, ALS/BLS, and special event coverage. Directly comparable to MedEx as a regional, founder-owned private EMS operator with hospital system relationships.
• Cataldo Ambulance Service: Cataldo is a privately held New England-based ambulance service offering 911 response, ALS/BLS, critical care transport, and wheelchair transport — closely mirroring MedEx's multi-tier service portfolio. Comparable as a regional, founder-driven private EMS operator with hospital contracts.

Regional players

• Elite Ambulance: Elite is a privately held Chicago-area ambulance provider offering basic and advanced life support, critical care, and non-emergency transport services. A direct local competitor to MedEx in the Chicagoland market with overlapping hospital and healthcare facility customers.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses3 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/Medexamb
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCMH9ZZTkIzrVxH0mY3Y8DyQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/medexamb
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/medexamb
• Instagraminstagram.com/medexamb

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 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 Medical Express Ambulance Service