Is Our EMS System About to Collapse
Our 911 system is broken! We can talk about the fact that your EMS tax money does not go to EMS agencies, or the soon to be catastrophic EMT shortage that is plaguing the industry. Or should we mention the dismal returns from insurance providers, that is part of the reason that EMS providers, EMT’s, AEMT’s, and Paramedics alike are underpaid, regardless of the metric you judge them by. These are professionals that are grossly underpaid and underappreciated.
What I am referring to is the overutilization and abuse of our 911 system by the very people we are here to serve. Offended? You should be. Three examples.
1. We have people calling for an ambulance in our region to help make them coffee, or because they cannot remember what remote goes to what device.
2. Well, If I go to the hospital by ambulance, I will be seen in the ER faster. (PRO TIP: NOT TRUE)
3. I do not want to waste my gas.
Think I am joking, I wish I were. Just looking at the year-to-date numbers from Bloomsburg EMS, they have answered 6,823 calls for service, while missing 419 calls during that same period. Out of the 6,823 calls taken, only 2,267 required a Paramedic, and 1232 were cared for by EMT crews. Adding these up, 3,499 out of 6,823 calls for service required an ambulance and crew.
So, if we are being honest with ourselves, why the additional 3,324 calls for service? Of these calls, over nine hundred were cancellations prior to arrival of the ambulance, or just after arrival. Just over three hundred were lift assists, where no other medical care was required, and approximately 330 calls were refusals by the patient after they were evaluated and, in some cases, treated (which is their right). 276 of these calls for service were for stand-by, such as fires, while over 260 had no patient.
With all of that stated, why was 911 called? What was the reason? There are a few things you should ask yourself when calling.
1. Is there a medical need?
2. Does it require immediate attention?
3. Does it require transport to the hospital by an Ambulance and Professional Medical Providers? Such as using Rabbit Transit, or an Uber.
4. Is this my only choice, or are there other means by which I can seek help? I.e... Urgent Care, Doctor’s Appointment?
I do not want anyone to misunderstand me. I am not discouraging you from calling 911. In fact, there are many of you out there that do not call and should! But we need to do better as a community. Neighbors help neighbors, Fire Departments, get on the box card for lift assists, use other modes of transportation, if appropriate. Is this going to fix the issues? Not exactly, but perhaps it will slow the decline until decision makers make changes.
Want to help? Call, write, email, text your elected officials. Demand that EMS tax money go to the agencies that provide your care. Help your neighbors when needed. Whether it is helping to pick your elderly neighbor off the floor, or having a spare key to their house, so we do not have to break down the door to get in. Lastly, we need EMT’s. Go to school, volunteer! Soon enough, there will not be enough EMT’s to staff Ambulances, and seeing how most Paramedics come from the EMT ranks, their numbers will decline as well. What happens when you call 911 for an ambulance and there is no one to respond?