EMS rolls out motorized gurneys; community paramedicine flags navigation centers as high 911 users

Deputy Chief Sandra Tong told the commission the EMS division is implementing motorized gurneys and training staff to use them with the department’s new larger ambulances, calling the change a safety improvement to reduce provider injuries.

Tong summarized March operations: PALS (Pediatric Advanced Life Support) training for paramedics, medical coverage for the St. Patrick’s Day parade with no major injuries reported, and work to expand the department’s quality-improvement team to analyze clinical incidents. She said the department expects to have 12–13 motorized gurneys in service over the next several months as more ambulances arrive.

Tong also presented a three-month analysis showing navigation centers and several permanent supportive-housing sites among the top 10 locations that generate 911 calls; SCRT (Specialized Community Response Teams) call volume rose by about 16% from February to March. She explained EMS-6 case management work to identify frequent callers and to connect them with services as a way to reduce repeat 911 responses.

Commissioners asked whether navigation centers have on-site medical staff or formal agreements with the Department of Public Health or the Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing; Tong said there are no formal agreements but described outreach and case-management approaches to address frequent callers and triage transitions.