Award Nurse Practitioner Agreements for Advanced Provider Unit Program

The Santa Monica Fire Department's Advanced Provider Unit (APU) program is expanding with the addition of two Nurse Practitioners, Erin Tomlinson and Alex Perez Sandi. This expansion supports a second APU unit, authorized as part of the Santa Monica Realignment Plan and the FY 2025-27 Biennial Budget, to better serve vulnerable populations, including those experiencing homelessness. The APUs provide comprehensive medical assessments, treat and release patients, offer mobile urgent care, and perform community paramedicine house calls. The agreements are exceptions to competitive bidding due to the declared local emergency on homelessness. Each agreement has an initial term with four 1-year renewal options, with a total not-to-exceed amount of $598,643 per practitioner, for a combined total of $1,197,286.

This expansion will increase the availability of mobile medical services for vulnerable populations, potentially reducing hospitalizations for low-acuity cases and providing direct care to those experiencing homelessness. Enhanced access to medical care for these groups is the primary benefit to residents.

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