County outlines EMS training expansion, grants and continued response improvements

County emergency services staff briefed the Public Safety Committee on May 1, 2025, about expanded EMS training, grant-funded advanced EMT courses and ongoing operational improvements.

Alex (reported for county emergency services) described an advanced EMT training initiative funded by a New York State EMS grant that will be run in collaboration with Delaware County EMS, SUNY Sullivan and Garnet Catskills. He said the grant will cover course costs so the training is no cost to participating providers and that Garnet Catskills will provide clinical time. "We're gonna use some of that grant funding, so it's no cost to our providers," he said, and the county hopes to run two classes with the grant money.

County staff reported continued reductions in response times tied to recent EMS program changes: "We continue to show about, you know, the 12 to 15 minute response time savings that we've had before the program started," a county official said, and staff said they will provide more detailed response metrics at a future meeting. Officials also noted extended transport times as an operational issue when ambulances are delayed for hospital transfers.

The committee observed National EMS Week activities (May 18–24) and discussed a public appreciation barbecue at Harris Hospital on May 20; county staff asked for outreach help to boost attendance for citizen preparedness courses.

Why it matters: Expanded training aims to increase the number of advanced-level EMS providers in Sullivan County, addressing gaps in rural paramedic coverage and creating a career ladder for basic EMTs. Grant-funded training reduces costs for local providers.

Next steps: County staff will finalize class logistics, clinical placements and a schedule and will return to the committee with response-time metrics and township-level breakdowns of EMS activity.