This week, the Arizona Department of Health Services awarded the Certificate of Necessity to Scottsdale Fire Department which allows the department to continue planning and preparing municipal fire department ambulance service, which is expected to begin operating in January, 2025.
With demand for emergency medical services increasing steadily, the city has been working through a lengthy process that is nearing completion – the result will be an improved level of emergency medical services for people who live, work and visit Scottsdale.
Scottsdale Fire Chief Tom Shannon underscores the critical nature of the program, emphasizing the necessity for comprehensive "door-to-door" service. Last year alone, a third-party ambulance service transported more than 18,000 Scottsdale residents and visitors to hospitals, highlighting the pressing need for an efficient municipal ambulance service to best serve people in Scottsdale.
The process for the department’s ambulance program began in March 2022. Since then, the City Council approved about $3 million for long lead time startup costs, including ordering new ambulances and equipment. Lengthy administrative submissions and review have occurred, with official approval and permits finally awarded this week.
With the certificate from DHS in hand, implementing the service will move forward, most importantly hiring and training new staff and firefighters to provide the service.
The new service will be rolled-out in phases. Phase one will station three ambulances, each staffed by trained firefighter paramedics and Emergency Medical Technicians. Scottsdale Fire anticipates transporting its first patient by January 2025. Two additional phases are planned extend through the next 2-4 years. Once the program is fully operational, Scottsdale Fire will operate nine ambulances to cover the entire service area.
In the interim, Scottsdale continues to rely on third-party ambulance services to respond to emergency calls.
