Baker County Ambulance Service Transitioning to Coos Bay Based Provider
By Garrett Christensen on Monday, October 3rd, 2022 in More Top Stories Northeastern Oregon News
BAKER COUNTY – (Release from the City Manager of Baker City) Dear FireMed customers,
Baker City and LifeFlight have enjoyed a long partnership providing air and ground ambulance transport in Baker County. We at Baker City appreciate this quality partnership with LifeFlight. LifeFlight will continue to provide air ambulance transport for its customers within Baker County. Baker City is no longer the ambulance service provider for Baker County beginning October 1, 2022.
Many have asked what will happen to their FireMed ground transportation memberships. Bay Cities Ambulance located in Coos Bay Oregon and a member of the Metro West Ambulance Family of Companies is the new ambulance service provider for Baker County. As the new service provider, they will provide ground ambulance transportation. Bay Cities Ambulance offers a program similar to FireMed under the title of LifeGuard. They are completing the online and phone setup process for this program in Baker County. If you are a FireMed enrollee, consider the following:
- If you are a current FireMed enrollee with a membership expiration after September 30, 2022, your membership will automatically transfer to the new LifeGuard program.
- If you are a current FireMed enrollee with a membership expiration on September 30, 2022, you will need to reach out to Bay Cities Ambulance before October 15, 2022, to enroll in their LifeGuard program. The membership phone number and website will be released as soon as available. Bay Cities Ambulance has indicated they will work with customers who might need an ambulance but have not completed the LifeGuard enrollment process during the first part of October as if there is no lapse in coverage.
- If you hold a FireMed Lifetime membership, you will receive a prorated refund from Baker City. You will need to contact Bay Cities Ambulance before October 15, 2022 to begin the enrollment process and purchase a LifeGuard Ground Transportation Membership. The website and enrollment phone number will be provided as soon as available.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Q. Why was I told there is no LifeGuard ground ambulance coverage service when I called Metro West?
A. Bay Cities Ambulance is a member of the Metro West Ambulance Family of Companies and is the new ambulance service provider for Baker County. The call center for the parent corporation Metro West is not set up to answer questions about the Baker County service provider. Bay Cities Ambulance is training its staff to answer questions about the Baker County service and LifeGuard in Baker County.
Q. When will I be able to sign up for LifeGuard with Bay Cities Ambulance?
A. Bay Cities Ambulance is working diligently to provide the website and phone number for direct enrollment into the LifeGuard program. The enrollment website and phone number will be released as soon as it is available.
Thank you for your patience as Baker City works with Bay Cities Ambulance to transition FireMed to LifeGuard.
Sincerely, Jonathan Cannon
