Ambulance Program

The Santa Monica Fire Department Ambulance Transportation Program is a key part of our commitment to delivering seamless, high-quality emergency medical care. Staffed by trained Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) known as Ambulance Operators, this team works side by side with our firefighter/paramedics to ensure patients receive timely and professional care from the moment we arrive on scene through transport to the hospital. Ambulance Operators play a vital role in patient assessment, treatment support, and safe transport, helping to maintain continuity of care and reduce response times across the city. This program enhances our ability to respond quickly, treat effectively, and uphold the highest standards of service for every member of our community.

SMFD’s EMS operations are further supported by McCormick Ambulance, a contracted private ambulance provider for Basic Life Support (BLS) transport services. These ambulances assist in patient care and transport individuals to the appropriate medical facility when needed. This dual-response model ensures that the community receives the highest level of emergency medical care while keeping SMFD resources available for the next urgent call.

Contact Us:

310-458-8562
FireEMS@santamonica.gov

FAQ

What is BLS and ALS?

When you call 911 for a medical emergency, responders provide care at two different levels: Basic Life Support (BLS) and Advanced Life Support (ALS). Basic Life Support (BLS) is the first level of emergency care. It includes essential treatments like CPR, oxygen therapy, bleeding control, and stabilizing injuries. BLS providers, such as EMTs, focus on keeping a patient stable until they can receive further medical care. Advanced Life Support (ALS) is a higher level of emergency care provided by paramedics. It includes advanced treatments like administering medications, inserting IVs, managing airways, and using specialized equipment to treat life-threatening conditions such as heart attacks or severe trauma. At the Santa Monica Fire Department, every fire engine is staffed with both Paramedics (ALS providers) and Emergency Medical Technicians (BLS providers) to ensure the right level of care is available for any emergency.

Who Sets the Rates for Ambulance Transports and Treatment?

The SMFD partners with McCormick Ambulance, a private ambulance provider, to handle most patient transports and billing. The fees for ambulance transportation follow the Los Angeles County General Public Ambulance Rates, which are standard across the region. In some cases, SMFD provides ambulance transportation directly when necessary. When this happens, a separate billing company, Wittman Enterprises, processes the transportation fees. Regardless of who provides the transport, patients and their insurance companies are billed based on the same county-approved rates.

Who do I contact about my emergency medical services and ambulance bill?

For McCormick Ambulance transports, please click here for information on requesting ambulance billing through MediCopy, a third-party biller for WestMed dba McCormick. For SMFD Ambulance transports, please contact Wittman Enterprises at 1-800-906-6552 between 8:00 AM and 4:30 PM. For questions specific to the service received from the Fire Department, please contact the Santa Monica Fire Department at 310-458-8652, press 0.

What if I cannot pay my emergency medical services and ambulance bill?

If you are unable to pay your emergency medical services and ambulance bill in full, you may be able to arrange a payment plan pending authorization.

For SMFD Ambulance transports, please contact Wittman Enterprises at 1-800-906-6552 between 8:00 AM and 4:30 PM to ask about payment plans.

For McCormick Ambulance transports, please click here for information on requesting ambulance billing through MediCopy, a third-party biller for WestMed dba McCormick.

How can I obtain a medical report?

Click here for information on how to obtain a Medical Incident/Paramedic report. There is a $15.00 processing fee, payable to the City of Santa Monica, that can be mailed to SMFD, 333 Olympic Drive, 2nd Floor, Santa Monica, CA 90401-3360 (please note:  For medical incident/paramedic reports older than August 2016, you must provide a specific incident date.) 