Ulster Co. invests $4.9M into emergency services
KINGSTON, N.Y. (NEWS10)-- Ulster County is investing $4.9 million into the Emergency Medical Services offered throughout the county. According to an announcement from county officials, the investment is designed to address service gaps and strengthen services within the county.
The investment is part of the EMS Coordinated Coverage Plan, a new plan involving financial support, service coordination through the County Department of Emergency Services and training programs and initiatives to address personnel shortages. The plan includes $2.8 million for core paramedic services, $1.6 million for services for municipalities with EMS contracts and another $500,000 for basic life support agencies to purchase equipment.
"EMS is an essential service for public health and safety, and we face critical service gaps in the county due to declines in volunteers over the years as well as increasing costs," said County Executive Jen Metzger. "The plan we are proposing will help close these gaps, improve response times, and ensure that our residents get the emergency care they need when they need it."
According to county officials, about two-thirds of the 911 calls dispatched in Ulster County are advanced life support calls. The coverage plan will equip agencies with a paramedic for these calls. Also included in the plan are some training and certification initiatives to expand the EMS workforce.
"We have a strong team at the Department of Emergency Services that has been diligently addressing critical EMS challenges, including the significant shortage of paramedics and EMTs, insufficient cost of readiness funding, and increasing call volumes. Ultimately, the EMS Coordinated Coverage Plan is more than a funding mechanism — it is a comprehensive strategy to transform emergency medical services in Ulster County," said Everett Erichsen, Ulster County Department of Emergency Services Director. "Our end goal remains unwavering: to create an Emergency Medical Services system that is patient-centered, accountable, and sustainable. By addressing workforce challenges, providing strategic financial support, and creating innovative coordination mechanisms, we offer a forward-thinking solution to the complex challenges facing emergency medical services in the modern healthcare landscape."
In addition to the plan, the county will be applying for a Municipal Certificate of Need (MuniCON) through the New York State Department of Health. With MuniCON, the Ulster County can oversee contracts and quality of services to ensure a financially viable and efficient approach to the delivery of emergency services.
More information on the EMS Coordinated Coverage Plan can be found on Ulster County's website.