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University Heights urges residents to call 9-1-1 after delays linked to Hatzalah Cleveland
Summary
City officials said they and three neighboring cities sent a letter to Hatzalah Cleveland over reports that the volunteer group encouraged residents to call them instead of 9-1-1, leading to delayed Advanced Life Support responses in at least 30 incidents; officials urged residents to call 9-1-1 first.
The mayor’s report at the University Heights City Council meeting on April 21 warned residents to call 9-1-1 first in medical emergencies after officials described instances in which a volunteer EMT group, Hatzalah Cleveland, allegedly encouraged people to contact them instead of local emergency dispatch.
The Mayor said city and regional public-safety leaders from University Heights, Cleveland Heights, Shaker Heights and South Euclid sent a letter to Dr. Rafi Israeli, medical director of Hatzalah Cleveland, outlining concerns about Hatzalah’s refusal to meet with city representatives and the effect on emergency response times. “To date they have not responded to our proposed MOU,” the Mayor’s report said.
City officials said the University Heights Fire Department logged at least 30 incidents in which Advanced Life Support (ALS) intervention was delayed after Hatzalah was contacted first; those delays were described as typically 5 to 20 minutes and in some cases up to 30 minutes. “When seconds count, delays in medical treatment caused by delays in calling 911, are not acceptable,” the Mayor’s report said.
Fire Chief Bob Perko, referenced in the Mayor’s report, told council that the four cities had convened to request a memorandum of understanding to coordinate responses, and that Hatzalah Cleveland declined to meet with the group. The Mayor said the letter was also forwarded to medical and state authorities and that the cities will take further actions as necessary to protect public safety.
Officials emphasized that calling 9-1-1 activates the full emergency-response system and mutual-aid agreements among neighboring cities. The Mayor said residents may contact Hatzalah after calling 9-1-1 and may ask dispatch to notify Hatzalah as an additional resource, but the city’s guidance is that 9-1-1 should be the first call in an emergency.
The Mayor’s office did not announce specific regulatory or legal steps at the meeting; it said the letter to Hatzalah’s medical director and copies to state authorities were initial steps. Council members did not vote on any ordinance related to Hatzalah at the April 21 meeting.
The city listed the matter during the Mayor’s Report; no executive session or formal enforcement action was announced at the meeting. Officials said they will continue to press for collaboration to avoid delayed care and will update the public if additional actions are taken.
