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Austin‑Travis County EMS reports 15.1% vacancy rate, details recruitment and opioid response efforts
Summary
Wes Hopkins, chief of staff for Austin‑Travis County EMS, told the Public Safety Commission the department is down about 105 sworn positions (15.1% vacancy), described hiring and retention changes, highlighted opioid interventions including a buprenorphine bridge and Narcan distribution, and said an auto‑aid CAD integration is tentatively set for August 2026.
Wes Hopkins, chief of staff for Austin‑Travis County Emergency Medical Services, presented the department’s fiscal‑year‑26 first‑quarter report to the Public Safety Commission on March 2, saying the service has an authorized strength of 714 positions and 609 field sworn personnel, leaving roughly 105 vacancies and a Q1 vacancy rate of 15.1%.
Hopkins said the largest gaps are at the entry‑level medic (EMT) and paramedic positions. “That entry level position, which is Medic…we have 33 field openings and 2 communications openings,” he told commissioners, and added that many separations occur in the first year or within five years of service.
The department attributed separations to retirements, unpredictable life events and…
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