Pruner Ambulance Decides to Sell Business

In the midst of a battle over the lucrative business of transporting patients, the owners of Ventura County’s primary ambulance company are selling their business to the second-largest provider of ambulance care in the nation.

Pruner Ambulance Co. announced late Tuesday that it will sell the 31-year-old business to CareLine, an Irvine-based company that has purchased nine ambulance operators in five states since its founding in 1992.

Owners Don and Jackie Pruner “were quite concerned about the quality of their successor,” Pruner spokesman Steve Murphy said. Pruner chose CareLine “because they have a strong presence in Southern California and because they have a strong history in maintaining a local work and management team.”

The move came just one week after the Board of Supervisors decided to extend for two years Pruner’s contract, despite protests from angry county firefighters, who had asked for a chance to bid on the contract.

Meanwhile, Pruner has been battling with the city of Ventura, which is considering a plan to allow city firefighters to take over paramedic and ambulance services now provided by Pruner.

Supervisor Vicky Howard said she learned of the sale late Tuesday afternoon.

“I am not surprised,” Howard said. “Businesses are very frequently up for sale. But I can’t remember hearing anything about this company being sold.”

Ventura Councilman Jack Tingstrom said the sale reaffirmed his belief that the ambulance company is not being upfront with the city.

“The firefighters told the city that major conglomerates are buying up small ambulance companies,” Tingstrom said. “But Pruner said it would not happen here.”

Murphy said the company did not inform city and county officials sooner about its plans to sell to CareLine because of business confidentiality.

“As long as the company continues to provide the same level of service, I don’t think that the county will have any problems,” Murphy said.

Pruner Health Services was launched in 1963 by Thousand Oaks residents Don and Jackie Pruner.

The company provides ambulance service for Ventura, Thousand Oaks, Simi Valley, Moorpark, Camarillo, Fillmore and Santa Paula. Ambulance service for Ojai, Port Hueneme and Oxnard is run by other private companies.

The private firms receive a subsidy from the county, totaling $238,700, but earn most of their revenues from fees charged to patients and insurance companies.

The Board of Supervisors regulates Pruner’s fees within Ventura County. For basic runs, prices range from $250 to $400. For runs using advanced life support, costs range from $500 to $800.

CareLine, the fastest-growing ambulance company in the nation, owns subsidiaries in California, Alabama, Colorado, Georgia and Massachusetts.