REMSA Health Partners with Truckee Meadows Fire Protection District

PRESS RELEASE

RENO, NV—The Regional Emergency Medical Service Authority (REMSA Health) and Truckee Meadows Fire Protection District (TMFPD) announced Jan. 5, 2022, a new partnership aimed at enhancing emergency services for the Northern Nevada region.

The partnership comes as a response to Washoe County’s rapid expansion and growth and the need to provide innovative solutions to emergency medical response. 

On December 15, 2021, REMSA Health’s Emergency Communication Center began receiving emergency calls from residents in unincorporated areas of Washoe County that require fire response. Previously, calls were dispatched by Washoe County.

The combined dispatch services will significantly reduce costs to TMFPD, thereby saving taxpayer dollars, according to a release. A REMSA Health dispatcher, who is fully trained and certified in emergency fire dispatch, will be dedicated to fire dispatching 24/7 for TMFPD. 

“As an internationally accredited dispatch center, REMSA Health is committed to dispatch excellence,” said Aaron Abbott, executive director of EMS operations, REMSA Health. “REMSA Health is pleased to be working closely with Truckee Meadows Fire Protection District to ensure we are both caring for the Washoe County citizens efficiently, safely and compassionately.”

Nearly 90 percent of TMFPD’s responses to incidents are medically related and, in most cases, TMFPD and REMSA Health respond jointly. The new arrangement creates efficiencies since dispatchers have the same access to patient information and can use rescue units and resources between both agencies. Additionally, REMSA Health uses a system that sends the closest resource based on GPS locations.

“We want to thank our Washoe County dispatchers for their hard work and service to Truckee Meadows Fire and Rescue, and for their continued service to county residents,” said Alex Kukulus, deputy fire chief for TMFPD. “Given the growth and exponential increase in medically related calls, our new partnership with REMSA Health will allow us to provide a higher level of service and response.”

Additionally, in September, TMFPD became a full partner under the REMSA Health franchise in providing medical coverage to several communities, including Washoe Valley, Sun Valley and Spanish Springs. Continuing to provide a timely and appropriate medical response, both in these new-growth areas, as well as closer to the community’s geographic center, required an innovative solution—a formalized partnership between REMSA Health and TMFPD that ensures the requirements of the REMSA Health franchise will be met in all areas of Washoe County. 

“Through this public/private partnership, REMSA Health and TMFPD are pioneering the ways we respond to emergency calls in our region,” said Abbott.

REMSA Health is a private, nonprofit community organization that provides a full range of innovative healthcare services outside of the hospital setting. The company is funded only by user fees, with no local tax subsidies. REMSA Health provides Washoe County’s 420,000+ residents with 24/7 ambulance services. Care Flight, a service of REMSA Health, provides critical care transport services via ground and air ambulance across the western United States. REMSA Health includes an internationally accredited regional emergency communications center, a Nevada-licensed Center for Integrated Health and Community Education, community paramedics, an accredited nurse health line, and special operations and special events teams.

The Truckee Meadows Fire Protection District serves unincorporated areas of Washoe County, Nevada, and is a full service, all-risk fire and rescue agency serving 6,000 square miles. The district also provides services to unincorporated Washoe County and provides oversight of county volunteer stations. The Truckee Meadows Fire Protection District (TMFPD) was established in 1972 and covers 6,000 square miles across Northern Nevada from 11 full-time fire stations.