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SFFD reports ambulance offload delays, warns private BLS pilot strains resources
Summary
Deputy Chief Simon Pang told the San Francisco Fire Commission on March 12 that the department—s average ambulance patient offload time in February was about 50 minutes, above the state 30-minute benchmark, and that prolonged delays are reducing ALS capacity and causing "medic-to-follow" incidents.
Deputy Chief Simon Pang told the San Francisco Fire Commission on March 12 that the department’s average ambulance patient offload time in February was about 50 minutes, well above the state benchmark of 30 minutes, and that prolonged delays have reduced advanced life-support capacity in the field.
“On average our time to transfer care to the hospital was about 50 minutes,” Pang said, adding that the department saw numerous lengthy delays, including instances that exceeded two hours. He told commissioners the delays have produced more “medic-to-follow” incidents—situations where an engine or other ALS unit must accompany or follow a private ambulance because additional treatment is required—reducing the department’s surge capacity.
Why it matters: prolonged offload times (APOT) tie up San Francisco Fire Department ambulances and paramedics, reducing available ALS units for new calls and…
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