Picking Up The Slack
A frantic family member just called 911, their loved one needs help… but is there an ambulance available? It’s a scary scenario to know that help “might be a little delayed”. Why? That little town the victim lives in USED TO HAVE ITS OWN AMBULANCE CORPS ready to respond with a fully trained crew, but now…
Yes, it is scary. According to the 2024 NYS EMS WORKFORCE REPORT, “The number of active EMS responders in New York State declined by 17.5% between 2019 and 2022”. Volunteer services, often funded by their local government/community, are also experiencing a huge deficit in volunteers and supplies. Between the loss of responders in both the volunteer and the paid services, the rising cost of supplies and equipment required on the rigs, the collection of fees, and burnout of staffers, the closest rig is not always a guarantee, particularly in rural communities.
Another issue that the state is dealing with is delayed grant funding. The funding affects administrative assistance to agencies including renewals, licensing, patient documentation, EMS training and more. These issues directly affect the ability of ambulance corps throughout the state to staff their rigs and handles calls under rigid protocols. Ambulance corps are trying to conserve their resources, some refusing to take non-emergency calls (such as lift assists) to save money and manpower.
Although the closing of an ambulance service may seem to be a surprise to some, it actually takes months to accomplish legally. In NYS, a company must notify the Department of Health and Regional EMS Councils at least 90 days prior to the actual closing date. During this time, the Regional EMS Coordinator and neighboring agencies are consulted to create a plan and find area coverage. If permanent coverage is not in place by the time of closing, neighboring services may be tasked with “mutual aid” or temporary coverage response until a permanent solution is found.
The NYS DOH's Bureau of Emergency Medical Services (BEMS) oversees and regulates the EMS system. According to NYS DOH Policy Statement 13-09, a documented and WRITTEN Closure Plan must be in place. This plan should include a method of communication with REMSCO and BEMS; and notification must be made to surrounding agencies, EMS coordinators, hospitals and medical facilities. At no time should the doors be closed without a plan in place and emergency coverage guaranteed.
When an agency goes out of business, it’s not just the local community that takes a “hit”; in a paid agency, the employees might feel let down or even betrayed. Their paychecks, which they need to pay bills, are disappearing, their feelings of self-worth take a hit, and the loss of any job can bring on depression. There is also the fear that if a new owner comes in, or an expanding service needs more personnel, their job is not necessarily guaranteed. Even volunteers may feel betrayed and may blame the “higher-ups” for mismanagement and also share concern for the communities that they live and volunteer in.
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