Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Study and Strategic Plan
Over the next several months, with the help of numerous stakeholders and a contracted vendor, the Montgomery County Department of Public Safety will be taking an in-depth look at the Emergency Medical Services System (EMSS) in Montgomery County. The goal of the study is to provide an updated plan and recommendations to guide the EMSS well into the future.
While dedicated EMS providers continue to serve the communities of Montgomery County every day, continuous strains on the EMSS for years have worn down even the most passionate clinicians and administrators. Many EMS agencies across the county, state, and country are struggling and some are in or nearing a crisis point. Unfortunately, some squads have ceased operations or merged with others because of severe fiscal and workforce shortages. Agencies across the board are experiencing steep increases in calls for service and operational costs, while at the same time seeing major declines in personnel and reimbursement revenue.
The study, planning, and recommendations will cover four key areas:
- Readiness of EMSS to handle emerging threats.
- Analyzing costs of doing business and a sustainable funding model to include operating and capital costs.
- Evaluating the current EMS delivery model to ensure the efficiency of service delivery of critical calls to timely quality clinical care.
- Examining the workforce's current and future needs including training.
Phases
Survey of Montgomery County Residents
The Montgomery County Department of Public Safety is asking for the public’s assistance in shaping the future of the County’s Emergency Medical Services (EMS) system by completing a brief survey. The anonymous feedback submitted via the link below will be utilized by the County and its contractor as a vital source of information when crafting an EMS Strategic Plan over the next several months.
Survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/MontCo_EMS_Public_Imput
Residents are encouraged to be candid and forthcoming when completing the survey. At no point is a name or contact information requested, and responses will not be linked to an IP address or mobile device in any way. The survey will remain open until July 1, 2024.
“Our citizens are essential stakeholders in our study of the EMS system in Montgomery County,” said Brian R. McKown, Interim Director of the Department of Public Safety. “Whether or not you’ve ever had to call 9-1-1 to request an ambulance, we need your feedback to help ensure a sustainable Emergency Medical Services system for the future.”
Primary ambulance coverage for Montgomery County is provided by a network of 19 independent state-licensed EMS agencies: 16 non-profit organizations, two municipal government departments, and one hospital. These agencies are supported by numerous mutual aid ambulance services, aeromedical providers, fire and police departments, and the Department of Public Safety. In 2023, there were 88,225 EMS incidents in Montgomery County, an average of more than 240 calls for service per day.
“Every six minutes, an ambulance staffed by dedicated EMS personnel is dispatched to an emergency somewhere in Montgomery County,” said David P. Brown, Deputy Director – Emergency Medical Services for the Department of Public Safety. “We have a duty to ensure that our EMS agencies have the support, funding, resources, and infrastructure they need in order continue their excellent track record of service to our County.”