San Francisco EMS reviews 911 ambulance response times and staffing challenges

The San Francisco County government meeting on July 4, 2025, focused on the critical issue of 911 ambulance response times, highlighting both improvements and ongoing challenges within the emergency medical services system.

Deputy Chief O'Connor presented data indicating that the city has made strides in response times since increasing ambulance staffing. In fiscal year 2021-2022, the addition of 60 full-time employees allowed for an increase of 6 to 9 ambulances in service daily. This staffing boost helped the department achieve a 90% response rate within the targeted 10-minute window in October 2022, although this figure dipped slightly in subsequent months. Notably, the number of "medic to follow" calls—instances where a fire engine responds without an ambulance—decreased by over 50%, indicating improved service availability.

Despite these advancements, the meeting revealed significant challenges. The volume of emergency calls has surged, particularly for behavioral health and overdose incidents, with increases of 38% and 25%, respectively. Additionally, ambulance crews are spending more time on each call due to longer wait times at hospitals for patient offloading, which has increased by 19 minutes since 2019. This situation is exacerbated by staffing shortages in hospitals, which limits their capacity to handle incoming patients efficiently.

The discussion also touched on the impact of traffic congestion on response times and the need for strategic planning to address these issues. Officials are exploring new models for ambulance deployment, aiming to station units in neighborhoods with high call volumes to improve response times.

The meeting underscored the interconnected nature of the emergency response system, with hospital staffing and operational challenges directly affecting ambulance service efficiency. As the city grapples with rising demand for emergency services, officials emphasized the need for collaborative solutions, including better staffing in hospitals and enhanced community paramedicine programs to manage non-critical calls.

In conclusion, while San Francisco has made progress in ambulance response times, the increasing call volume and hospital delays present ongoing challenges that require immediate attention and strategic planning to ensure the safety and health of the community.