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EMS rep warns of staffing strains and county ambulance proposal; hospital downsizing a concern
Summary
The town’s EMS representative reported rising cardiac and pediatric calls, staffing churn and a county-level proposal to add ambulances through Greene County EMS; the speaker expressed concern that Columbia Memorial downsizing could increase transports to Albany.
The Jewett Town Board received an EMS report on June 10 that flagged rising call volumes, staffing challenges and a county-level plan to change ambulance coverage.
S4, the EMS representative, reported two calls year-to-date and said cardiac arrests totaled 16 for the year to date; S4 also described a marked increase in pediatric calls and several recent staffing shifts—including full-timers reducing hours and part-timers leaving—and ongoing recruitment and interviews. “We had great reviews, great feedback,” S4 said of a recent nursing-student clinical rotation with Greene County EMS and said the program could continue next year.
On regional planning, S4 said Mark Evans presented a county legislative proposal to add more ambulances through Greene County EMS and the idea was received well though no decision had been reported back to the town. S4 expressed concern about Columbia Memorial hospital downsizing: “If Columbia Memorial closes, that means everything goes up to Albany,” S4 said, warning that transfers would lengthen ambulance out-of-service times and increase call loads on neighboring providers.
S4 also described procurement steps for an oxygen cascade system and plans to contract for oxygen delivery. The report included operational details and flagged continuing uncertainty about county-level decisions over ambulance operations and wages.
What’s next: S4 will attend the next county meeting and brief the board on any decisions by Greene County; local hiring and scheduling changes are ongoing.
