EMS ambulatory services across the area deal with short staffing

BROWNSVILLE, Ky. – Emergency Medical Services all across the area are low on employees and are having issues staffing their ambulatory services.

“Without an ambulance service what are you going to do most people don’t think they think that if I call 911 within a few minutes and ambulance is going to show up,” said Keith Sanders, the director of Edmonson County Emergency Medical Services.

But that is not always the case.

According to Sanders, they run two ambulances at a time, but sometimes, more is needed.

“It’s not uncommon for both of our trucks to be out at one time. When something else comes on, we either have to get another crew in or we have to roll to another county. So if we roll to, for example, Warren County, well, if they’re coming to here, that’s about a 30 minute response time assuming they have a truck to send. Well, they’re stretched his thing as we are,” said Sanders.

With needing a two-year degree and being paid just over half what nurses make across the area, ambulatory services are having a hard time filling positions, according to Sanders.

“EMS has been facing a staffing shortage for paramedics for probably going on eight years now the number of classes that are offered has dramatically reduced,” said Sanders.

Emergency medical technicians and paramedics are in high demand locally, but because of pay, stress, hours and other factors, the employees are not as numerous as directors would hope.

According to Tony Barnett, the interim director for the Franklin-Simpson Ambulance Service, they are still running full force, but some days it can be hard.

“It’s a stretch I will tell you that it is a stretch to make it work and, but I’ve got a staff that is doing all that they can do but it is very difficult,” said Barnett.

Sanders asks the public to use EMS and the emergency rooms in hospital only when you are truly experiencing an emergency but says do not hesitate to call if you do need help.

Sanders says if things remain how they are right now, people in need of service are going to see serious response time delays.