Austin-Travis County EMS dealing with staffing shortage | KVUE

EMS departments across the nation continue to see problems with staffing and retention. ATCEMS's chief tells KVUE what's being done in Central Texas.

[timbeatty]

Pay them more. Low pay is the main reason

[pimmyflores]

Pay is only part of it. Ems has turned into customer satisfaction instead of patient care. It's a joke. You know why it takes so long to respond? Because we have to respond to the idiots who want an ambulance but don't need one. "I need an ambulance because I ate too much and I'm now full". "I need an ambulance because I have had chronic back pain for 3 years but I need to go to the hospital". "I need an ambulance because I was bit by a mosquito and now it's itchy and I scratched it". "I called because I stubbed my toe on the table". Actual calls I have been on. But nobody wants to report on that. The fact that we have to send an ambulance to those people are why it takes such long response times. But nobody will report on that

[AustinthGenTexan]

I don't understand EMT commanders and police chiefs wearing a general's stars on their collars. These are civilian organizations. Can someone please explain this ? 🤔

[punkypinko]

Defund the police. Increase the EMS, you know, people who actually aren't a danger to the community but just help people.