By MES Dispatch staff
The Briefing
- Santa Monica, Calif. — Fire Department launches an Advanced Provider Unit (APU) pairing a nurse practitioner with a firefighter/paramedic to handle low-acuity 911 calls. FireRescue1
- Began responding in November; currently operates Mon–Thu as part of a two-year Realignment Plan to strengthen public safety/EMS. FireRescue1
- Goals: treat on scene, reduce unnecessary transports, keep ambulances free for critical calls, and connect frequent 911 users to follow-up care. FireRescue1+1
- SMFD plans to expand to seven days and is recruiting part-time NPs with ED/urgent-care experience. FireRescue1+1
SANTA MONICA, Calif. — The Santa Monica Fire Department has begun fielding a two-person Advanced Provider Unit (APU) that pairs a nurse practitioner with a firefighter/paramedic to respond to non-life-threatening medical calls, aiming to treat more patients in place and cut down on ambulance transports, officials said. The program started responding in November and is currently scheduled Monday through Thursday as the city ramps up staffing. FireRescue1
City leaders framed the APU as a cornerstone of Santa Monica’s two-year Realignment Plan, approved in October, to strengthen public safety and emergency services. Early responses have included minor medical care and behavioral-health interventions, with an emphasis on keeping transport units available for time-sensitive emergencies and coordinating follow-up care for high-risk or frequent 911 callers. FireRescue1
According to the city’s program page, the APU will also conduct post-incident follow-ups to help manage chronic conditions and reduce repeat 911 use. SMFD says it intends to expand to seven days a week and is seeking part-time, contract nurse practitioners—preferably with ED or urgent-care backgrounds—to staff the model. Santa Monica
Fire Chief Matt Hallock said the initiative is designed to ease hospital pressure, improve patient outcomes and deliver advanced assessment and treatment directly at the scene. Officials added that the APU complements existing EMS resources rather than replacing ambulances, which remain dedicated to high-acuity incidents. FireRescue1
Editor’s note: The APU reflects a broader trend in fire-based EMS toward community paramedicine and alternative destination strategies—particularly in coastal and urban systems where ED crowding and repeat 911 use have strained response capacity.