FAQ

Q. How do I call for an ambulance?
A. Call 9-1-1. Sierra Ambulance contracts with Fresno EMS for dispatch services. Their operator will answer 9-1-1 calls, determine the nature of the emergency and dispatch firs responders and the ambulance.

Q. Why does the fire department show up when I call for an ambulance?
A. There are ten local fire companies serving the mountain communities. These local volunteers are often times much closer to your home than our ambulance. They respond ahead of the ambulance and render immediate aid. They are trained in emergency care and CPR. They are also very helpful to our paramedics when a lot needs to happen in a short period of time.

Q. Can I go by ambulance to urgent care?
A. The Urgent Care of Community Medical Center Oakhurst is not considered a hospital, or a fully staffed emergency room. Urgent Care is equipped to stabilize certain types of emergencies until an ambulance can transport them to the Fresno, or until they can be released to home. Because Urgent Care is not a full emergency room, it is not always appropriate to transport patients with certain medical problems, such as, major medical, or trauma injuries, to Urgent Care. Additionally, Urgent Care only takes patients from 9:00 am to 9:00 pm.

Q. Why do I sometimes see ambulances of other companies in the Mountain area?
A. From time to time, American Ambulance transports patients from a Valley hospital to the patient's residence. Also, Mercy Ambulance, from Mariposa, travels through our response area to return to Mariposa from Fresno.

Q. Why does my ambulance bill cost so much?
A. There are many reasons why health care in general is so expensive and none of them are good. We must provide service to anyone who calls 9-1-1 us regardless of their ability to pay. Still other patients belong to government mandate programs like Medicare and Medi Cal which do not pay the full cost of service. We, as are all health care providers, are prohibited from charging these programs, or their participants, (patients), any more than what these programs pay. As a result our rates are set higher to make up for these short falls.