North America Ambulance Services Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By Transport Vehicle (Ground Ambulance), By Emergency Services, By Equipment, By Region, And Segment Forecasts, 2022 - 2030

Report Overview

The North America ambulance services market size was valued at USD 17.08 billion in 2021 and is expected to expand at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 10.08% from 2022 to 2030. The demand for ambulance services is growing owing to a surge in the number of people suffering from different chronic diseases, as well as a spike in the geriatric population. Furthermore, increased healthcare expenditures and the availability of reimbursement policies are projected to drive demand for ambulance services throughout the projection period.

The constant increase in traumatic accidents is likely to drive market expansion. For instance, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, in 2019, there were 33,244 fatal motor vehicle crashes in the U.S. of which 36,096 deaths occurred. Moreover, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 2.74 million people were injured in the same year. Besides, as per the same source, there are an average of 99 fatalities every day due to vehicle accidents. In the U.S every day, 7,507 persons are injured in car accidents.

Upsurge in road accidents and an increase in the demand for ambulance services are fueling the market growth. Rising geriatric population has led to the growth of the North America ambulance services market. The need for emergency medical intervention is high among the geriatric population, which is growing hastily. Elderly people (aged ≥65) are currently the fastest-growing group of the general population in the U.S. For instance, according to National Population Projections by the U.S. Census Bureau 2017, nearly one in four U.S. citizens is likely to be an older adult by 2060.

Similarly, according to Rural Health Information Hub, the U.S. population is aging and by 2030, one in every five people in the U.S. is expected to be more than 65 years of age. Besides, according to Statistics Canada, the number of people aged 85+ increased by around 12% from the year 2016 to 2021. Thereby, this factor is expected to boost the ambulance services market in this region. Rising cases of chronic diseases such as cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, etc. are expected to surge the demand for ambulance services.

Cardiovascular diseases such as stroke, congestive heart failure, coronary artery diseases, and cardiac arrest, require instant emergency medical services and medical attention. For instance, as per CDC, every 30 seconds, one person dies in the U.S. due to cardiovascular disorder. Moreover, as per a similar source, around 18.2 million people aged 20 and above have coronary artery disease in the U.S. CVD is among the leading causes of death and usually requires immediate medical attention, which increases the need for ambulance services.

Furthermore, according to the Association of Air Medical Services, more than 550,000 patients in the U.S. use air ambulance services annually. The growing incidence of chronic diseases is projected to bolster the growth of the North America ambulance services market. The market was positively impacted during the COVID-19 pandemic, as the ambulance services operators were experiencing an upsurge in services for emergency medical services from hospitals and health insurance firms. In November 2020, Air Methods Corporation collaborated with HealthPartners, a consumer-governed, non-profit healthcare organization.

This contract will comprise air methods to provide vital air medical services at reduced pricing to HealthPartners plan members in Wisconsin, Minnesota, Lowa, Illinois, South Dakota, and North Dakota. The necessity for precise real-time data and safety procedures has fueled the development of air ambulance software companies, particularly meteorological software companies. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has identified an increase in accidents as one of the main reasons for installing real-time data management software. Real-time data tracking aids the pilot in making critical flying decisions.

Furthermore, the flight management software installed in the air ambulance provides information on helicopter equipment and software. The pilot's overall operating tasks have been simplified because of the usage of artificial intelligence (AI) and the internet of things (IoT). Airbus SAS and Honeywell Corporation Inc. are working together to create and build lightweight, highly autonomous helicopters for air ambulances. Furthermore, the increased deployment of "smart ambulances" is predicted to result in a major increase in demand for ambulance services post the coronavirus epidemic.

Private health care, as well as national agencies throughout the region, are investing extensively in new technologies to improve the efficiency of patient experiences before hospital admission. Furthermore, technological improvements such as online booking of ambulance services are boosting the industry in the U.S. Other factors driving market expansion include rising emergency healthcare spending, an increase in the number of hospitals offering adequate air ambulance services, and improved medical facilities across the country.

Transport Vehicle Insights

The ground ambulance segment dominated the market and held the largest revenue share of 48.87% in 2021. Vans, pickup trucks, cars, motorcycles, bicycles, all-terrain vehicles, golf carts, and buses are all examples of ground ambulances. The segment is anticipated to grow due to the rising number of occurrences of cardiovascular illnesses in this region. According to the CDC, one person in the United States dies of a cardiovascular disease every 30 seconds.

Furthermore, according to a similar source, 18.2 million persons in the U.S. aged 20 and up suffer from coronary artery disease. Similarly, the region's aging population is predicted to fuel segment expansion. According to Statistics Canada, the number of individuals aged 85 and over grew by 12% between 2016 and 2021. As a result of the foregoing, the ground ambulance sector is likely to dominate the ambulance services market.

The air ambulance segment is projected to witness the fastest growth rate of a CAGR of 11.19% over the estimated period. Air ambulances are critical transportation services in the event of medical crises. Air ambulances are outfitted with medical equipment and personnel to provide medical treatment while in flight, whereas non-medically equipped and staffed aircraft help carry patients and organs. These services provide convenience, flexibility, and safety, among other benefits. The rising prevalence of chronic conditions such as cardiac arrests and rising cases of accidents is fueling segment expansion.

For instance, as per Association for Safe International Road Travel, more than 46,000 people in the U.S. die annually owing to road accidents, whereas, around 4.4 million people are extremely injured. Furthermore, air ambulance services are faster as compared to the ground ambulance and water ambulance services and can rapidly reach remote areas where other ambulance services are unable to reach.

In addition, the launch of new services and rising collaborations are further driving the segment growth. For instance, in December 2021, Life Flight Network and Life Link III, two independent hospital-owned, air ambulance programs signed a letter of intent to launch a strategic alliance. The collaboration is intended to implement best practices, process enhancement, quality initiatives, and safety. Thus, the aforementioned factors are anticipated to help the segment grow.

Emergency Services Insights

The emergency services segment dominated the market and held the largest revenue share of 61.17% in 2021. The segment is anticipated to witness a considerable growth rate over the forecast period. The growth of the emergency services segment can be attributed to the prevalence of cardiovascular diseases such as cardiac arrest, stroke, congestive heart failure, and rising cases of COVID-19 across the region.

Emergency ambulance services are provided to patients with acute injury or illness and to those who are in urgent need of medical attention. For instance, according to statistics by CDC, around 3.4 million people in the U.S. suffer from epilepsy. As per the same source, more than 795,000 people in the U.S. have a stroke annually. Furthermore, according to UC Davis Health, firearm-related incidents result in 39,707 deaths in the U.S. Similarly, as per the Government of Canada, the number of injuries tallied up to about 101,572 in 2020.

Thus, people suffering from emergency healthcare situations and various traumatic accidents are expected to boost the segment growth over the forecast duration. Nonemergency ambulance services are expected to witness a significant growth rate of a CAGR of 9.19% during the forecast period. Medically essential, pre-scheduled inter-facility services are provided by non-emergency services, which are the key drivers boosting the growth of the segment during the forecast period.

Nursing homes, hospitals, surgery centers, dialysis centers, and other facilities get non-emergency services. These services might be used for patient logistics, such as transporting a fragile patient from one location to another without moving the body. Many procedures need the patient to be in a stable state during the recovery phase. Moving such persons from one area to another necessitates medical competence, which only Patient Logistic experts have.

Along with ambulance services, a few firms offer patient logistics professionals to assist individuals in traveling without requiring mobility. Moreover, long-distance travel, special events, routine medical check-ups, neonatal transfer, and other scenarios can all benefit from the use of a non-emergency ambulance for safe and comfortable transportation. Thus, owing to varied usability, the segment is expected to witness sizeable growth.

Equipment Insights

The Advance Life Support (ALS) ambulance services segment dominated the market and held the largest revenue share of 64.08% in 2021. ALS ambulances are facilitated with vascular access, and cardiac arrest treatment equipment, nebulizer, large-bore needle, glucometer, medications, and pre-loaded needles, over and above the BLS equipment. Patients who require a greater degree of care during transport, such as those on a cardiac monitor, those who may have an airway difficulty, and pregnant women, necessitate an ALS ambulance.

Upsurge in the number of people suffering from cardiac arrest are anticipated to boost the ALS segment over the forecast period. For instance, according to the report published by The American Heart Association has released Heart and Stroke Statistics – 2022, there are more than 356,000 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests (OHCA) yearly in the U.S., of which nearly 90% of them fatal. Similarly, as per the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada data, an estimated 35,000 cardiac arrests and 62,000 strokes occur in Canada every year. The ALS provides patients with continuous cardiac monitoring and ventilator support along with an emergency medical technician.

Basic life support (BLS) is anticipated to have a growth rate of a CAGR of 8.87% during the forecast period. BLS ambulance services is utilized for patients with injuries or acute illness until they receive adequate medical care at the healthcare facility. Every ambulance is staffed with state-licensed emergency medical technicians. BLS ambulance services are generally equipped with ventilation and airway equipment, automated external defibrillators, immobilization devices, bandages, two-way communication devices, latex-free equipment, obstetrical kit, and injury prevention equipment, among others.

Most countries have a number of guidelines on various conditions for providing BLS. For instance, in the U.S., the American Heart Association's BLS protocol can be used by nonprofessionals and includes treatment for drowning, cardiac arrest, choking, and respiratory arrest. Furthermore, the rising incidence rate of acute illnesses such as asthma attacks, bronchitis, burns, heart attacks, and pneumonia will drive segment growth. For instance, as per the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America Society, approximately 25 million people in the U.S. have asthma, i.e., about 1 in 13 people.

Regional Insights

The U.S. dominated the ambulance services market and accounted for the largest revenue share of 89.46% in 2021. The growth can be attributed to factors such as the presence of several key market players in this region, growing demand for high-quality healthcare services, well-established healthcare infrastructure, and favorable reimbursement policies and regulatory reforms in the healthcare sector. For instance, in February 2019, the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation (Innovation Center) of the U.S.

Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) introduced a new payment model for emergency ambulance services that intends to enable Medicare Fee-For-Service (FFS) beneficiaries to obtain the most adequate care at the right time and place while potentially lowering out-of-pocket costs. All of these reimbursement regulations make ambulance services accessible to the patient population, hence propelling the ambulance services market’s growth.

On the other hand, Canada is projected to witness moderate growth at of CAGR 5.55% during the forecast duration. Canada ambulance services market is expected to witness the fastest growth in North America over the forecast period. Rising geriatric population, increasing government funding, and rising healthcare expenditure are factors anticipated to boost ambulance services market in this country.

As per CIHI (Canadian Institute for Health Information), total health expenditure in Canada is anticipated to be more than USD 308 billion in 2021, representing 12.7% of Canada’s gross domestic product (GDP), following a high of 13.7% in 2020. In Canada, a major part of healthcare is publicly funded, which has led to advancements in healthcare and an increase in the number of patients undergoing treatment. These factors contribute to the growth of the ambulance services market.

Furthermore, the rising incidence of trauma, stroke and heart attack is expected to drive the demand for ambulance services. For instance, according to the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada, approximately 40,000 people suffer cardiac arrest outside of a hospital in Canada each year. Immediate medical attention and EMS are required in cases of cardiac arrest, which contributes to the growth of the ambulance services market in Canada.

Key Companies & Market Share Insights

Key players are involved in adopting strategies such as merger and acquisitions, partnerships, and launching new services to strengthen their foothold in the market. For instance, in April 2022, the Bermuda Air Ambulance company Ltd (BAA), launched its “ready to go” air ambulance service, for critically ill and injured patients. Moreover, in April 2019, Air Methods and Anthem Plc. expanded their partnership as a part of the in-network health coverage benefits across 6 states in the U.S. Furthermore, significant investments in high-end technology by air ambulance manufacturers might assist to strengthen the market position.  Some of the prominent players in the North America ambulance services market include:

• Air Methods Corporation

• Babcock International Group PLC

• Acadian Ambulance Service

• American Air Ambulance

• Phi Air Medical

• Express Air Medical Transport, LLC

• Air Medical Group Holdings, Inc. (Amgh)

• Falck A/S

• American Medical Response

North America Ambulance Services Market Report Scope

Segments Covered in the Report

This report forecasts revenue growth at regional, and country levels and provides an analysis of the latest industry trends in each of the sub-segments from 2018 to 2030. For this study, Grand View Research has segmented the North America ambulance services market report on the basis of transport vehicle, emergency services, equipment, and region:

• Transport Vehicle Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2018 - 2030)

  • Ground Ambulance

  • Air Ambulance

  • Water Ambulance

• Emergency Services Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2018 - 2030)

  • Emergency Services

  • Non-Emergency Services

• Equipment Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2018 - 2030)

  • Advance Life Support (ALS) Ambulance Services

  • Basic Life Support (BLS) Ambulance Services

• Regional Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2018 - 2030)

  • North America

    • U.S.

    • Canada