KINGSTON – A study commenced by former Ulster County Executive Pat Ryan, now a member of Congress in 2021 regarding the state of Emergency Medical Services (EMS) in Ulster County, was released by County Executive Jen Metzger on Tuesday. The detailed report of the study has several options to address the EMS crisis that Ulster County, and the nation, is experiencing.
The report presents data collected from Ulster County ambulance and first responder agencies, assesses the current state of EMS and ambulance service delivery, identifies challenges faced by Ulster EMS providers, and presents a range of options for the county to consider for future EMS and ambulance service sustainability.
Forty-three EMS service providers, including 21 ambulance agencies and 22 first response agencies were studied and the results identify the gaps in service and EMS service provider needs. While focused on Ulster County services, the report notes that service delivery challenges are not isolated to Ulster County but are part of a larger national crisis.
Under current state law, EMS is not considered an “essential service” similar to police and fire services. The state legislature is currently negotiating the 2025 state budget, which includes legislation that would designate Emergency Medical Services as an essential service, like fire and police, and create a pathway to bolster recruitment and sustainably finance EMS services for the long term.
“Ulster County, as elsewhere in the country, has seen a decline in coverage, especially in certain geographic areas, due to the well-documented challenges of recruiting and retaining EMS practitioners,” said Metzger. “At the same time, the proportion of the population that is 65 years of age or older continues to increase, which places increased demands on an already strained system.” Metzger said the new designation needs to be passed in Albany. “This is a public health and safety issue, bottom line.”
The options listed by the report include maintaining the status quo saying it is possible but not in the best interests of the county.
- Option 1: Maintain Status Quo
- Option 2: Provide Financial Subsidy to Existing Provider Agencies
- Option 3: Safety-Net Countywide ALS Ambulance Service – County Operated Model
- Option 4: Safety-Net Countywide ALS Ambulance Service – Private Provider Model
- Option 5: Countywide ALS ‘Fly Car’ Model
- Option 6: Funding to Enhance Response Areas of Ambulance Agencies
- Option 7: Ulster County as a Regional Ambulance Staffing Resource
The complete 148-page EMS report can be found here.
