Sierra Medical Services Alliance (SEMSA) was established in 2000 as a private, not-for-profit, Nevada based corporation. Its fundamental reason for being created was to assist other ambulance, transportation services and communities.  

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In 2005, Lassen County, California’s ambulance provider abruptly closed operations and SEMSA was asked if they could provide interim EMS services. Subsequently, SEMSA won a ten-year contract to provide ambulance services in this rural county and this was re-awarded in 2015.  

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In 2006, RIGGS Ambulance Service in Merced County, California approached SEMSA about taking over the day-to-day management of its company. Over the years, SEMSA developed Riggs Ambulance into a high-performance ambulance service that was awarded a new 10-year exclusive ambulance contract in Merced County. Upon commencement of that contract, SEMSA became the sole owner of Riggs. This contract was re-awarded in 2020.

 

SEMSA continues to provide high quality EMS to Merced County and innovative programs such as a Tactical Emergency Medical Support (TEMS) team, Pulse Point program and pit crew CPR training to all co-responders.

 

In 2015, SEMSA started the SEMSA Air service in Susanville, California. This provided a much needed air medical helicopter to serve the Northeastern California region. In 2017, SEMSA added a second helicopter in Adin, California, partnering with Southern Cascades EMS to provide HEMS to this underserved area. SEMSA Air partners with Air Methods, who provides all aviation services, pilots, and mechanics. SEMSA Air operates two Bell 407 medical helicopters equipped with state of the art critical care medical equipment. Each helicopter is staffed by a critical care flight nurse, critical care flight paramedic and highly experienced EMS pilot.  

 

SEMSA owns and operates Med-Express wheelchair transportation services in Reno, Nevada and Merced, California.  

 

In 2006, SEMSA established its International Center for Prehospital and Disaster Medicine (ICPDM). ICPDM’s focus was on providing distance and on-site education in tactical and disaster medicine. To date, ICPDM has become a regional training center for the National Disaster Life Support Foundation and continues to teach NDLS core, basic and advanced disaster classes to healthcare providers under contracts with the States of Oregon and Washington. 

 

SEMSA has created a new rural EMS model being implemented and refined in various small markets/service areas.  

 

SEMSA’s focus remains on rural and small metropolitan markets that struggle in the current reimbursement environment to provide the best services possible for the dollars available.  

 

SEMSA is a proud member of the American Ambulance Association, California Ambulance Association and California Association of Air Medical Services, our COO serves on the Board of Directors for the California Ambulance Association. SEMSA crew-members also serves on multiple committees of the National Disaster Life Support Foundation, and the Special Operations Medical Association