County Executive Pat Ryan has formed a countywide Emergency Medical Services Task Force to review the current EMS systems in place, highlight areas for investment, and formulate solutions to improve services
The Ulster County Emergency Medical Services Task Force will hold its first meeting on March 7th and will be made up of local elected officials, EMS industry experts, and experienced field providers
KINGSTON, N.Y. – County Executive Pat Ryan today announced that he has formed a countywide Emergency Medical Services Task Force made up of local elected officials, EMS industry experts, and experienced field providers. The group will be tasked with reviewing current EMS systems in place, identifying areas for investment, and formulating solutions to improve services countywide. The committee will hold its first meeting on March 7th.
“Ulster County is making a strong commitment to ensure that our residents have fast, responsive, and effective EMS services in every part of our County.” County Executive Pat Ryan said. “We will do everything that we can to support our EMS and first-responders who have worked tirelessly — through ice storms, pandemics, and beyond — to save lives across our community.”
“I am looking forward to working collaboratively with our EMS community to learn how the Legislature and Ulster County can work together to ensure that our volunteers have the resources that they need and that the residents of our County have the highest quality services possible,” Ulster County Majority Leader Legislator Jonathan Heppner said. “As we have seen throughout the pandemic, the work of our EMS and other emergency services is absolutely critical and we must do all that we can to assist them."
"As a Legislator and as Captain of the Wallkill Ambulance Corps, it is essential that we look at how we can best deliver these lifesaving services to the residents of Ulster County,” Ulster County Minority Leader Legislator Ken Ronk said. “I am proud to serve on this committee and work with local leaders to find solutions to the problems that the EMS community faces."
Ulster County EMS agencies are responsible for responding to more than 20,000 calls annually. During the recent winter storm, EMS agencies received 400 calls in a 72 hour period - triple the number of calls generally received in a day. Due to declining numbers of volunteers and numerous issues exacerbated by the pandemic, many local EMS departments have struggled or been forced to come up with creative solutions to maintain services. The committee will look at ways to identify under-serviced areas, issues related to how the pandemic has impacted EMS work, and how leveraging changes or new local laws could help bolster services, and more.
###
