🚑 Dutchess County's emergency medical services (EMS) are facing significant challenges that demand immediate attention. Commissioner Smith shed light on the critical issues plaguing EMS response in our region.
Commissioner of Emergency Response, Dana Smith.
The current reimbursement model for commercial EMS units is flawed, leading to inefficiencies in resource allocation. With units getting paid only per call, there's little incentive for them to remain available between emergencies. This results in prolonged wait times and, alarmingly, instances where ambulances never make contact with patients in need.
Despite national standards of a response time under nine minutes for life-threatening emergencies, Dutchess County falls short, meeting this benchmark only 53% of the time. Shockingly, 11% of the time, ambulances take more than 15 minutes to arrive, jeopardizing patient outcomes.
Compounding this issue is the impending exodus of trained EMS responders. A staggering 35,000 out of 70,000 certified responders in the state are actively engaged, with many planning to leave the field within three years. The lack of adequate compensation and benefits, coupled with the demanding nature of the job, has resulted in a significant staffing shortage across EMS agencies in the county.
Commissioner Smith outlines a multifaceted plan to address these pressing issues:
County Supplemental Coverage: Ensure continuous EMS coverage, mitigating delays, and ensuring timely responses.
Regional Collaboration: Working together to optimize resource allocation and enhance EMS efficiency.
Workforce Development: Attract and retain EMS personnel, including improved pay and benefits packages.
Public Education: Educating the community, especially young people, about the importance of EMS and how they can contribute to it.
Systems Logistics & Efficiencies: Streamlining operational processes to improve overall EMS performance and effectiveness.
Will Truitt, County Legislature Chair.
Legislative leaders, such as County Legislator Chair Will Truitt and Legislature Valdes Smith, recognize the severity of the situation and emphasize the need for bipartisan support at both the state and federal levels. Truitt emphasizes the diminishing volunteer base as a cause for concern, stressing the importance of community involvement and support. Commissioner Smith underscores the economic disparities within the EMS workforce, highlighting the low wages and challenging working conditions faced by many responders.
Yvette Valdés Smith, County Legislature Minority Leader.
With bipartisan consensus within the County Legislature, it's evident that addressing the EMS crisis is a top priority. However, action is required at all levels of government to ensure the safety and well-being of our community members during emergencies.
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