For two decades, NORCAL Ambulance has been the quiet force keeping Northern California’s health care system in motion, connecting hospitals, clinics and patients who depend on specialized medical transport.
While flashing lights and sirens usually define what people picture when they think of ambulances, NORCAL operates in a different lane. As a private transport provider, its teams handle critical interfacility transfers, moving premature infants in NICU incubators, patients on advanced ventilators or medical equipment, and those transitioning from hospital beds to rehabilitation or long-term care. It’s the behind-the-scenes work that helps hospital systems manage patient flow and capacity, and connects patients with the appropriate level of care at the right time.
“Our mission has always been to provide high-quality inter-facility transport. We’re not just transporting patients — we’re linking entire care teams.” — Eric Larimer, CEO
“Our mission has always been to provide high-quality inter-facility transport,” says Eric Larimer, the company’s CEO and one of its original six employees. “We’re not just transporting patients — we’re linking entire care teams.”
That mission has built enduring partnerships with major health care systems including Sutter Health, Kaiser Permanente and UC Davis Health. Each partnership requires seamless coordination with hospital transfer centers and nursing teams, and managing specialized medical equipment and meeting rigorous clinical standards. Crews undergo additional training to meet those expectations, especially for neonatal, advanced life support and critical-care patients who depend on continuous monitoring and clear communication between facilities.
“Our success comes from investing in our people,” Larimer says.
His own path proves the point: he began as one of NORCAL’s original employees in Oakland and today serves as CEO — a reflection of the company’s culture of growth from within. NORCAL funds training and education scholarships for employees pursuing nursing, paramedicine and other advanced medical fields, giving many Emergency Medical Technicians a launching pad into long-term careers in health care.
Operating privately means facing different pressures than 911 emergency services. NORCAL’s teams manage complex logistics, coordinating hundreds of responses per day while ensuring that both patients and health care partners are treated with compassion and professionalism. The company also advocates for patients, helping families navigate the often-confusing world of medical transport billing and insurance reimbursement.
As it celebrates 20 years in service, NORCAL Ambulance remains an essential link in Northern California’s health network chain.
“In many ways, we are the gears that keep the region’s health care system turning,” Larimer says. “By helping hospitals move patients efficiently through the continuum of care, we’re ensuring every individual in our community has access to the high-quality treatment they deserve.”
