SANTA MONICA, Calif. — The Santa Monica Fire Department has begun deploying a two-person Advanced Provider Unit that pairs a nurse practitioner with a firefighter/paramedic to respond to non-life-threatening 911 medical calls, with the goal of treating more patients on scene and reducing unnecessary hospital transports.
The unit began responding in November and currently operates Monday through Thursday, the Santa Monica Mirror reported. It is part of the city’s two-year Realignment Plan approved by the City Council in October to strengthen public safety and emergency services.
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Fire Chief Matt Hallock said the program aims to keep ambulances available for critical calls, ease pressure on hospitals and connect frequent 911 callers with follow-up care. Officials said early responses have included minor medical treatment and behavioral health interventions.
The department plans to expand the unit to seven days a week in the coming months and is seeking part-time contract nurse practitioners with emergency or urgent care experience.
Should fire departments expand nurse–paramedic response units to handle low-acuity 911 calls, or does this shift risk stretching fire-based EMS too far from its core mission?
