Tompkins officials consider expanding Rapid Medical Response as ambulance staffing falls short

Tompkins County legislators and emergency-response leaders on May 27 discussed a proposal to expand the county’s Rapid Medical Response (RMR) program and add transport ambulances and paramedic coverage to address persistent ambulance shortages and long rural response times.

The proposal, developed by the county Department of Emergency Response after a Tompkins County Council of Governments (TCOG) EMS subcommittee request, would add a 24/7 paramedic-level unit, a fourth county vehicle staffed during peak hours, and a three-ambulance transport fleet to back up local agencies. County staff described several staffing models and cost estimates and asked the committee to direct further study and community coordination, including work with the Center for Governmental Research (CGR).

County emergency staff said current gaps leave parts of the county effectively underserved. The presentation cited data showing RMR—operational since April 2, 2024—averages about 95 calls per month (weekday daytime), and that the county had 114 incidents in which a rescue was not available and 34 occasions in 2025 when crews waited more than 10 minutes on scene for a transport ambulance. Presenters said roughly half of RMR calls require paramedic-level care.

Tompkins County proposals and numbers

Joe (Department of Emergency Response presenter) described three staffing models.…