Rural/Metro Ambulance – FAQs

 Ambulance Transport

1.      How do I call an ambulance? 

For emergencies dial 911.  For non-emergency transport services for those patients requiring transport to and from the hospital, clinics, assisted living facilities, nursing homes and/or private residences, please call (503) 588-6538 or 1-800-989-9993.

2.      Where will the ambulance take me if I am sick or injured? 

The ambulance will transport you to the closest, most appropriate hospital.

3.      May a family member come with the patient?

In most cases a family member may accompany the patient to the hospital.

4.      I’m really embarrassed to have to be taken in an ambulance, how does Rural/Metro care for me?

Our EMT’s and Paramedics are trained to handle every situation with compassion and we respect the privacy of our clients. 

5.      Is there a typical response for an emergency?

Yes. In the event of an emergency, Salem Firefighter/Paramedics will respond on engine or ladder companies to provide rapid, first response medical care.  At the same time, a Rural/Metro Advanced Life Support Ambulance will be dispatched to transport to the hospital and continue medical treatment for the ill or injured patient.  Salem Firefighter/Paramedics will ride with the ambulance if the patient’s condition requires two paramedics for care.

6.      Where is Rural/Metro's business office located? 

The administrative offices are located at 1790 Front Street NE, Salem, OR 97301.

7.      Where are ambulances stationed throughout the city? 

Rural/Metro utilizes a system status management plan for the deployment of ambulances throughout our coverage area.  The goal is to allocate our resources to the area of highest call volume.  We deploy six (6) 911 ambulances that are strategically placed based on historical call demand and current demand analysis trends.  The goal is to maximize our coverage and decrease response time which has a positive impact on saving lives. 

8.      What services are offered? 

Rural/Metro offers emergency and basic life support transportation services in Salem, Marion County ASA#1 and Polk County ASA#1.

9.      How many ambulances does Rural/Metro operate in Salem? 

Rural/Metro dedicates six (6) 911 ambulances to the system.  We also deploy one (1) non-emergency transport ambulance which runs Monday-Friday from 8am-5pm.

10.    How many people do you staff in Salem? 

Rural/Metro has 60 employees, who are dedicated and committed to our citizens.

11.    How many EMTs are on board during a regular call? 

Our ambulance is staffed with one (1) EMT and one (1) Paramedic.

12.    Do you offer further educational opportunities for your employees? 

Rural/Metro provides continuing medical education for its employees.  To further enhance their knowledge, we provide CPR, PHTLS, PEPP and ACLS for our EMTs and Paramedics.

13.    How much can a client expect to pay for service? 

A patient can expect to pay on average $700 for emergencies, $489.50 for BLS emergencies and $225.50 for BLS non-emergencies. Most health insurance companies and plans pay some percentage of these costs. The local State or County regulation agencies set the rates for ambulatory services.

14.    What if I don’t have insurance? 

Rural/Metro transports all patients in need of medical attention to the hospital.  In the event a patient does not have insurance, they are set up as a private pay account.  The patient will have the option to be placed on a payment plan if needed.

15.  What do I have to pay if an ambulance arrives to assist me and I decline transportation to the hospital by that ambulance? 

In the event an ambulance assists you and no treatments are rendered, there is no charge for that service.

16.   Will the police come if I call an ambulance? 

The police department will respond to the scene upon request by the ambulance or fire department, or if the nature of the call warrants a police response.

17.   Who decides if my ambulance use was medically necessary? 

For the patient with insurance, it is the insurance company that decides if a transport was medically necessary based on the injury and/or illness and the treatment provided by the Paramedic.

Our Salem Partnership

18.  What benefits will a community receive for choosing to partner with Rural/Metro? 

      Rural/Metro will strive to provide the highest quality of care that the citizens of Salem have come to expect.  Rapid paramedic first response with secure and safe ambulance transport is the number one priority of our partnership with the Salem Fire Department.  This partnership will result in more resources to our community, which improves response times.  Studies have proven that even a few seconds can be the difference between life and death in a medical emergency.  Our Company is also committed to being a great business partner to the Salem Chamber of Commerce and the City of Salem.  Rural/Metro is proud to bring new technology to our EMS system and is also looking forward to providing community education, first aid, child safety programs, CPR and the public access defibrillation program.  In the Pacific Northwest Rural/Metro is a leading provider of emergency and non-emergency ambulance services.  With 56 years of service, the company has operations in 23 states and 400 communities through the U.S. and provides more than 1 million medical transports each year.  In Oregon, Rural/Metro has a long-standing relationship with the City of Grant Pass, Oregon.  We are excited to bring our years of experience and dedication to this partnership.

19. In regard to increased safety, what specifically has this partnership provided to the citizens of Salem? 

Rural/Metro has implemented DriveCam technology to our fleet.  Drive Cam is a front/rear facing video device that also records audio and G-force.  The Drive Cam is set up to detect driving incidents, accident and near misses where a G-force is detected that allow audio/video to be captured 10 seconds before and after the incident.  When an event occurs a green light on the Drive Cam turns red.  This indicator notifies the driver that a driving event has been recorded and is ready to be viewed via download.  This device is more than a tool to monitor employee driving.  It provides drivers with important, accurate and unbiased feedback about their driving habits.  This also assists us with preventive education and driver training efforts.  The education we receive from this for training will help prevent accidents and unnecessary wear and tear on vehicles.  Safe driving behavior reduces fleet expenses.  The driving feedback system shows drivers and the community at large, that company management cares about driving safety.  All driving comes with risks, but this tool can help reduce risk and save lives. We also have Bariatric Transport Equipment.