LACoFD’S APRU PROGRAM CELEBRATESC ITS TWO-YEAR ANNIVERSARY BY EXPANDING ITS EMS SERVICES FOR THE COMMUNITY

Los Angeles, CA， Nov 18 – Today marks the two-year anniversary since the Los Angeles County Fire Department’s (LACoFD) Advanced Provider Response Unit (APRU) program was launched to streamline and enhance emergency medical services (EMS) in the community.

Comprised of a nurse practitioner and a firefighter/paramedic, the APRU responds to 9-1-1 calls for low-to-medium acuity patients (e.g., prescription assistance, pain management, wound care, nausea, etc.), so paramedic units remain available to attend to more severe cases that require specialty skills and ambulance transport to the hospital emergency room (ER).

“Since its launch in 2019, APRU teams have successfully cared for more than 2,000 patients,” said Dr. Clayton Kazan, LACoFD Medical Director. “Through an $8.1 million grant from the American Rescue Plan Act, we can now expand the APRU program to more communities in the County.”

Currently, the APRU program operates every day in the Antelope Valley (AP-11) from 8:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. Through the American Rescue Plan Act, the LACoFD plans to continue the program for another three years and implement two additional units. The Department is working with the County’s Chief Executive Office to determine the best locations to base the expansion units.