Emergency Medical Services Frequently Asked Questions
The City of San Diego's partnership with Rural/Metro of San Diego in providing emergency medical
services (EMS) is attracting national and international attention. San Diego Medical Services
is the nation's first public-private partnership providing innovative and quality
9-1-1 paramedic and medical transportation services. Here are just a few of the most frequently
asked questions about San Diego Medical Services.
The City of San Diego's 9-1-1 medical system,
San Diego Medical Services, is a partnership between the City of San Diego and Rural/Metro of San
Diego, Incorporated. The partnership is a Limited Liability Company (L.L.C.).
The City of San Diego's Fire-Rescue Department has served the citizens of San
Diego since 1889 and started limited 9-1-1 first responder (first on the scene with medical aid)
service in 1979.
Rural/Metro of San Diego's parent company, Rural/Metro Corporation has more than 50 years of
experience as an international leader in the provision of emergency services. Rural/Metro Corporation
serves more than 500 communities and has more than 12,000 employees.
Each partner has specific roles in San Diego Medical Services.
San Diego Fire-Rescue Department:
- Oversees the City's medical 9-1-1 operations.
- Provides the primary 9-1-1 emergency medical response with paramedic/
firefighters on all of the City's 46 fire engines.
- Staffs 9-1-1 ambulances.
- Oversees medical dispatch communications (9-1-1 Dispatchers).
Rural/Metro Of San Diego:
- Staffs paramedic ambulances.
- Provides non-emergency medical transportation.
- Provides financial management, billing & purchasing.
- Oversees System Status Management (ensuring the appropriate number of ambulances are in an
area to adequately respond to 9-1-1 calls.)
- Infuses capital into the Emergency Medical System to help ensure on-going quality improvements.
Since the commencement of the first five-year contract in July 1997,
San Diego Medical Services has responded to more than 180,000 calls for help.
San Diego Medical Services has made a number of enhancements to the City's EMS program:
- Paramedics arrive on the scene two minutes faster for life threatening emergencies.
- Community-wide coverage has improved with more overall paramedics and paramedic-staffed a
mbulances available.
- The delivery of patient care is now seamless as all personnel utilize the same medical
supplies and equipment and operate under the direction of one medical director.
- Taxpayers are saving money as San Diego Medical Services requires seven
million dollars less subsidy than the next closest bidder for the City's EMS contract.
- As a 50% partner in San Diego Medical Services, the City shares in all
profits San Diego Medical Services generates.
San Diego Medical Services has posted extraordinary performance results:
- Emergency response times are well above contract requirements: paramedic engine on scene in
eight minutes or less, 90% of the time; ambulance on scene in twelve minutes or less, 90% of the
time.
- San Diego County's Division of EMS, which oversees all local paramedic agencies, rates
San Diego Medical Services, clinical quality improvement program as
"exceptional."
- The 9-1-1 Fire/Medical Dispatch Center is the 27th Dispatch Center in the world accredited
for excellence.
- The City's most recent Annual Resident Satisfaction Survey revealed that San Diego residents'
satisfaction with emergency medical services has increased 13% since San Diego Medical Services
began operations; and
- San Diego Medical Services has not only increased citizen satisfaction of
the City's EMS program, but also protected taxpayers by establishing a financially sound system.
Click here for contact information for San Diego Medical Services
If you are not the patient involved in the transport, medical reports can only be obtained through
subpoena for a charge of $15.00 for each copy. If you are the patient involved in the transport and
you would like a copy of your medical report, please call 1-888-876-0740 for information and
instructions on obtaining medical records.
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