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Supervisor Breed asks budget analysts to audit San Francisco Fire Department emergency medical response
Summary
Supervisor Jane Breed directed the Budget and Legislative Analyst to prepare an additional performance audit of the Fire Department's emergency medical services, citing average daily shortages of ambulances and response rates below the department's agreement with the state.
Supervisor Breed, chair of the Government Audit and Oversight Committee, asked the Board on Feb. 11 to direct the Budget and Legislative Analyst (BLA) to conduct an additional performance audit of the San Francisco Fire Department’s emergency medical services (EMS).
Breed said recent BLA work revealed alarming trends: the department’s so-called "medic to follow" situations — where ambulances are not available to respond to calls — have increased more than 500% since February 2008, and such shortages occur on average eight times per day. She told supervisors the department is currently about "8% below" its required 80% emergency-response benchmark under its agreement with the State Emergency Services Authority.
Breed asked the BLA to identify exactly what the Fire Department would need in personnel, ambulances and other resources to reach the 80% response-rate target and to complete that report in time for consideration in the upcoming budget cycle. She also requested the BLA investigate administrative staffing practices that might free up resources.
Why it matters: The board heard testimony that shortfalls in EMS response could jeopardize public safety and department revenue and could have staffing consequences. Breed framed the request as a fact-finding step to inform budgeting and to ensure the city meets contractual response obligations.
Next steps: The BLA was asked to produce the requested analysis for use in the next budget cycle; no vote was recorded on Feb. 11 to adopt the audit request but Breed submitted the motion for consideration and funding in the appropriations process.
Sources and evidence: Supervisor Breed’s introduction to the motion, including the figures for medic-to-follow incidents, the 500% increase since 2008, and the 80% response target, is recorded in the meeting transcript.
