Greene County EMS presents equipment upgrades, response-time data and staffing needs ahead of 2026 contract renewal

Mark Evans, representing the county’s primary paramedic provider, told the Greene County Health Services Committee on Aug. 6 that the service is prepared to continue under a county-run system and outlined equipment upgrades, response-time data and a significant budget request ahead of a 2026 contract renewal.

Evans said the provider’s current overall paramedic response time is about 8 minutes, 21 seconds, with a Valley average of 8:24 and a somewhat faster Mountain Top time. "This machine is just an absolute complete game changer," he said of newly deployed Hamilton T1 ventilators that, he told the committee, enable more patients to be delivered to hospitals sitting upright and not intubated.

The change in equipment and protocols, Evans said, has reduced the length and intensity of hospital stays for some patients. He reported the provider used ventilators 37 times last year and 47 times already in the current year. Evans attributed improved outcomes in part to on-scene care continuity with hospital and air-ambulance teams and to introducing CPAP/BiPAP options in the field.

Why it matters: the upgrades affect patient care and county costs. Evans said avoiding intubation often means shorter ICU stays and reduced total hospitalization time, and he asked the committee to consider a larger county budget share as the provider seeks to remain competitive on pay and retain staff.

Details and budget requests

Evans presented a range of capital and operating needs. He described current monitors (identified in his presentation as legacy LIFEPAK 15 units, historically costing about $25,000 each) and a next-generation device (referred to as a Pack 35) that he said will cost roughly $60,000 when fielded. He also noted the organization has moved to Hamilton T1 ventilators — the same model used by regional air ambulances — to simplify handoffs.

On workforce and pay, Evans said starting pay for medics with his provider is $30.25 an hour and that nearby competitors are moving toward $34 per hour. He told the committee the provider is proposing pay adjustments and a night/weekend differential that it had not previously paid. "We don't want to get that far behind," Evans said of regional pay competition, naming Aidan O'Connor at Great Port Rescue as a comparator.

Evans reported the organization typically carries a fund balance of about $400,000 to $450,000 at calendar-year end, and he described fleet needs that require maintaining spares and replacing vehicles approximately one to two per year.

Service model and county consolidation

Evans told the committee his board "is prepared to fold into a county system when we're told to," and he said board members view a consolidated county system as beneficial to residents. He cautioned, however, that some operational details could affect employee retention: several speakers in the meeting noted that retirement and seniority protections would be handled differently under a county employment model and that collective bargaining could change benefits and seniority unless the legislature specifies retention terms.

Operational changes and new protocols

Evans described recent additions to the provider’s capabilities: Hamilton ventilators, medication pumps to reduce dosing errors, and new medications added to protocols as soon as training and policies allow. He said the service has used rapid sequence intubation in selected cases and that the new equipment increases options to avoid intubation when appropriate.

Additional context

Evans also reviewed mutual-aid activity, saying the provider did 15 mutual-aid calls to Schoharie County and noted that neighboring counties have increased paramedic coverage. He said regional medical control (REMO) was considering how to deploy blood products regionally rather than stocking every vehicle because of supply and rotation constraints.

Ending

Evans concluded by reiterating the provider’s readiness to work within a county-run system and asked legislators to consider staffing and equipment funding needs in upcoming budget discussions. The presentation was received with questions about pay, fund balance and how seniority/retirement would be handled if a county consolidation proceeds.