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Quarterly EMS report shows offload and staffing strain; committee orders system assessment ahead of transport contract renewal
Summary
The county EMS director reported persistent ambulance offload delays and staffing pressures; committee members asked for a comprehensive assessment to inform the next transport RFP and to capture local government costs now absorbed by cities and fire agencies.
The Santa Clara County Emergency Medical Services (EMS) director presented the quarter 1, 2025 system report to the Health & Hospital Committee on March 19 and described ongoing operational strain: extended ambulance offload times, reliance on firefighters for patient transport when ambulances are unavailable, and a continuing personnel gap for paramedics.
Robert Sapien Jr., representing San Jose Fire Department, told the committee the department transported patients to hospitals 1,477 times when ambulances were unavailable and that…
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