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1. What if I have a compliment or a complaint regarding Sumter County Fire & EMS?

You may contact Sumter County Fire & EMS 352-689-4400 or via email at records@sumtercountyfl.gov.

2. Why does a fire truck come to my house when I call for an ambulance?

All of Sumter County Fire & EMS personnel are cross-trained as Firefighter/ EMT’s or Firefighter/Paramedics. All Sumter County Fire & EMS Fire Engines, Ladder Trucks and Ambulances are equipped to provide medical care.

Sumter County Fire & EMS sends the most appropriate unit(s) to emergencies based upon the adopted standards set by the International Academy of Emergency Dispatch (EMD & EFD). The most appropriate response for your emergency may be any combination of these resources.  

Some medical calls require additional personnel to provide treatment and moving of the patient for transport. In cases where the fire engine is closer than the ambulance and the emergency requires an immediate response, closest fire unit can arrive on scene and provide care until an ambulance arrives.

3. Why did I get transferred to a nurse when I called for an ambulance?

Through the Sumter County 911 Nurse Navigation Program, some 911 calls with non-emergency injuries or illnesses will be transferred to a Registered Nurse. The nurse will assess a patient's symptoms and refer them to the most appropriate medical care that could include a telehealth option, or referral to a local clinic or urgent care center. With innovative technology, the nurse will be able to present the caller with a list of available healthcare providers in their community that can provide the appropriate services based on the caller’s clinical needs. The nurse will be able to facilitate and schedule an appointment directly with the provider to streamline the patient experience. In addition, the nurse can also order transportation for the caller, on an as-needed basis, through participation with their insurance plan.

4. Where do I get a copy of my report?

Contact our Records Management Liaison at 352-689-4400.

You may also use the online form by going to the following link:

 https://www.sumtercountyfl.gov/625/Public-Records.

5. Why do Sumter County Fire & EMS Ambulances look like AMR Ambulances?

Through a transition agreement with American Medical Response, Sumter County Fire & EMS is leasing the blue ambulances from American Medical Response. The lease will be in effect until SCFEMS receives its new ambulances. The new ambulance appearance will match the current Sumter County Fire and EMS Fleet.

Additionally, through the same transition agreement, American Medical Response will continue to provide ambulance service under the operational direction of Sumter County Fire & EMS using ambulances with a similar appearance.

6. Do I get to choose which hospital I am transported to?

Sumter County Fire & EMS will transport patients to their preferred hospital that is within 45 miles of their location. However, in some cases the patient’s condition warrants specialty care or the closest facility. In those cases, transportation to the most appropriate facility may be different from that preference.

7. What are the Charges for an Emergency Transport to a Hospital by a Sumter County Fire & EMS Ambulance?

The emergency transport fee charged by Sumter County is dependent on the level of emergency services required. As of October 1, 2022, the fee for basic life support [BLS] services is $500.00; advanced life support services category 1 [ALS1] $550.00; advanced life support category 2 [ALS2] $625.00; plus mileage charges of $10.00 per mile, urban & suburban and $12.25 per mile rural.

8. Who do I Contact If I Need a Copy of a Medical Transport Bill or if I have a Concern About an Invoice or transport bill?

For information, discussion of account status, or patient inquiries, initial contact shall be made to the contracted third-party billing Compliance Officer. 

The Compliance Officer will work as a liaison with Sumter County Fire and EMS Division staff to identify, resolve, and reconcile reporting errors. The Compliance Officer maintains a documented record of all calls to the Compliance Tip Hotline, actions taken in response to reported incidents, and the resolutions to the concerns raised.

Contact Sumter County Fire and EMS Transport Billing contractor, DigiTech by phone at 1-844-729-4006, email scbocc@payambulance.com, or https://scbocc.payambulance.com/