For 40 years, Western Sierra County had an integrated 24/7 emergency medical services (EMS) program through the Western Sierra Medical Clinic (WSMC). The clinic was an official Alternate Emergency Care Base Station, and its medical practitioners provided advanced life support (ALS) to patients, both at the clinic and in the ambulance. They also helped train new emergency medical technicians (EMTs).

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In 2014, WSMC ended this service due to high costs and difficulty recruiting skilled providers. The clinic also terminated its Alternate Base Station Agreement, so ambulances could no longer transport patients there for stabilization. This created a significant shortage of ALS services in the area. Although some EMTs could still provide basic ALS, they were unable to perform more advanced procedures like advanced cardiac or pediatric life support.

To address this gap, the non-profit Sierra Frontier was formed to secure financial and other resources to restore emergency care.

 

Rebuilding EMS in Western Sierra County

 

Since 2014, Sierra Frontier has been working to rebuild the county's EMS infrastructure.

• Training: They've trained numerous health aides and responders, including 23 advanced EMTs, to provide emergency care in several local communities. One of these advanced EMTs is currently in paramedic school and will return to provide full-time, 24/7 paramedic coverage.

• Paramedic Project: The Downieville Fire Protection District has hired a full-time paramedic as part of a new project. The goal is to develop sustainable funding and training for both basic and advanced EMS staff across multiple fire departments.

 

EMS Funding Measures

 

In November 2020, voters approved two tax measures (Measures E, G & H) to create sustainable funding for EMS, fire, and rescue services. This funding strategy blends an affordable property tax with a slight increase in the Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT), paid by visitors. The Downieville Fire Protection District's advanced EMS budget is now $100,000, which supports the new paramedic, equipment, and supplies.

 

Downieville Ambulance Urgent Care (DAUC)

 

In January 2020, Sierra Frontier helped open the Downieville Ambulance Urgent Care (DAUC). Using a refurbished ambulance as a mobile clinic, DAUC provides urgent care when the medical clinic is closed. Staffed by a nurse practitioner, it has expanded its services to include COVID-19 testing and vaccinations.