FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
EMS Leadership Academy Highlights Urgent Need to Address EMS Workforce Crisis
[Albany, NY – December 12, 2024] The emergency medical services (EMS) system, a cornerstone of public health and safety, is facing an unprecedented crisis as underfunded departments struggle to provide essential care. Recent findings from the 2024 NYS EMS Workforce Report and the National EMS1 and Fitch & Associations 2024 Industry Trend Survey reveal that systemic underfunding and lack of federal and state support have created unsustainable working conditions for paramedics and emergency care providers.
A Strained System Reaching a Breaking Point
The number of active EMS responders in New York State declined by 17.5% between 2019 and 2022, jeopardizing the ability of communities to respond to emergencies effectively (NYS EMS Workforce Report, 2024).
Over the past decade, the number of ambulance services in New York State has decreased by 9% (from 1,078 to 982)
Nearly 60% of EMS agencies nationwide report insufficient staffing to meet 911 call demands, delaying emergency response times and increasing risks for patients in critical need (EMS1 Trend Survey, 2024).
Underfunding Creates Unsustainable ModelsEMS systems rely heavily on revenue from Medicare, Medicaid which often reimburses below the actual cost of care, while private insurers deny emergency claims in an effort to increase their own bottom lines. Many communities do not subsidize their EMS systems and see them as a revenue opportunity. This has led to:
Low wages: 45% of EMTs report having an hourly base wage of $19 and 76% of EMTs in New York earn $24 per hour or less, a rate comparable to retail positions despite the high-stakes nature of their work. Paramedics, in particular, earn less than their counterparts in law enforcement and healthcare fields, such as nurses, firefighters, and police officers.
Overworked professionals: Nearly 50% of paramedics work more than 40 hours per week, often taking on multiple jobs just to make ends meet. This overwork leads to high levels of stress and burnout, with only 27% of respondents meeting CDC sleep recommendations. 61% cited lack of time as a major barrier to maintaining physical health.
Burnout and attrition: A staggering 73% of EMS providers nationwide report experiencing burnout or compassion fatigue, with 37% planning to leave the field within the next five years.
Leadership and Systemic Change Are KeyEMS departments urgently need increased public funding and strategic reform to address:
Sustainable funding models from local governments are needed to ensure agencies are well-resourced and able to respond to the emergency demands of their community. This includes fair wages and equitable retirement plans in order to improve recruitment in this challenging field.
The creation of career pathways and better leadership to retain quality talent and reduce turnover. According to the 2023 American Ambulance Association (AAA)/Newton 360 Annual Turnover Study, the direct cost of turnover exceeds $11,000 per person. One way to stem the tide of turnover and keep the best providers is to invest in leadership development.
Expanded mental health and wellness programs for overburdened EMS providers, as only 12%-15% currently access behavioral health services.
Quote from The EMS Leadership AcademyRobbie MacCue, MBA, FP-C, Co-Founder of the Academy, stated: 'Our EMS professionals are the backbone of community safety, yet they face impossible odds due to chronic underfunding and a broken reimbursement model. Without immediate local, state and federal support, your community risks losing the critical lifeline that EMS provides."
A recent advocacy film project spotlights the EMS Crisis
In addition to direct advocacy efforts, the EMS Leadership Academy supports the documentary “Honorable But Broken: EMS in Crisis,” which highlights the challenges faced by EMS professionals. American actress and producer Sarah Jessica Parker, recognized as one of Time magazine’s 100 most influential people in 2022, was announced as the narrator for the film, which was produced by Bryony Gilbey, a former producer for CBS News, and Rich Diefenbach, a former deputy bureau chief at CBS News.
Gilbey, inspired by the stories of EMS workers stretched to the brink by the COVID-19 pandemic, explained: “EMS professionals have been telling us for years that the system is unsustainable, and we haven’t been listening. While our film shines a spotlight on their irreplaceable value to society and their urgent need for an updated funding mechanism, Sarah Jessica Parker took that spotlight and increased the wattage 1,000%. We are beyond grateful that she supports our cause and wanted to narrate.”
Gilbey continued: “When the pandemic hit, EMS workers continued to show up at great risk to their own health, uncertain whether they would infect their families. These are healthcare professionals. We absolutely owe it to them and, frankly, to ourselves to pay them a livable wage so that they can continue to work in their chosen field and we can count on them showing up when we call 911.”
Notably, EMS services remain non-essential in most states, and in New York, a bill sponsored by Senator Shelley B. Mayer and Assemblyman Steve Otis earlier this year passed the state Senate but ultimately failed in the Assembly.
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About the EMS Leadership AcademyThe EMS Leadership Academy, founded by Robbie MacCue and Lisa Giruzzi, is revolutionizing emergency medical services (EMS) leadership with its global training resources, year-round programming, and highly regarded EMS Leadership Summit. The Academy empowers EMS professionals to develop the skills and resilience needed for success.
Media ContactRobbie MacCue & Lisa Giruzzi Founders, EMS Leadership Academy Email: robbie@emsleadershipacademy.com Website: https://emsleadershipacademy.com Branding & Logos: https://emsleadershipacademy.com/branding/
Phone: 1-888-330-8288
