Health care
BY BEN THOMPSON
Local ambulance services scale down
Zooming in
Monks said the squad unit change leaves fewer resources available, and that the SUVs should be a supplement for the department’s more than 40 ambulances. Stedman said squads are viewed as a boost for the system that won’t result in reduced service for residents. EMS hasn't met its 90% on-time response goal in the city or county for the past 3 years. Austin-Travis County EMS on-time rate On-time target Austin Travis County
and medications, but can’t transport patients. Squads are now in service from 9 a.m.-9 p.m. based on daily EMS sta ng and call volume. No more than ve ATCEMS ambulances are replaced each day by squads, which are deployed across the city and county service area depending on demand. The resource change comes as Austin and Travis County o cials have expressed concern about tighter nancial conditions this year. Stedman and Austin EMS Association President James Monks both pointed to medical sta ng costs as a factor in the change; Stedman said overtime now takes up more than a third of daily sta ng costs—up from a planned 13%— which she said isn’t sustainable.
“Squads,” or life-saving SUV units, are now replacing some Austin-Travis County Emergency Medical Services ambulances. The new squad pilot program started April 22 after years of consideration and several months of formal development, EMS spokesperson Capt. Christa Stedman said. The change is meant to improve call and personnel management within budget limitations, according to ATCEMS, while the city medics’ union says 911 responses are being negatively impacted. Ambulances sta ed by a paramedic and EMT have full patient transport capacity and advanced lifesaving gear. Smaller squad units sta ed by a paramedic generally have similar capabilities
100% 90% 80% 70%
May 2020
May 2021
May 2022
May 2023
May 2024
May 2025
Ambulance: • Paramedic and EMT • Advanced gear, patient transportation capacity
SOURCE: CITY OF AUSTIN COMMUNITY IMPACT
Squad: • One paramedic • Less equipment and
What to expect
medication onboard, no patient transport capacity
The EMS department will continue to monitor response times and other metrics under the sta ng change, with adjustments to be made as needed. “This approach is part of a broader evolution in how EMS systems across the country are adapting to growing call volumes and increasingly complex patient needs,” o cials said.
Austin medics are responding to calls with both ambulance and squad units.
COURTESY AUSTIN TRAVIS COUNTY EMS
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