SFFD reports 11,344 EMS calls in May and pilots buprenorphine administration by community paramedics

Deputy Chief Sandra Tong summarized May EMS activity at the June 14 Fire Commission meeting, reporting 11,344 EMS calls in the month and a roughly 79% market share for the San Francisco Fire Department on medical responses. Tong described ongoing workforce pipeline activity — EMT graduations, internship cohorts, and a 99‑10 internship pathway that supplies ambulance hours toward hiring — and highlighted awards for EMS staff.

Tong emphasized the department's pilot allowing community paramedics to administer buprenorphine in the field for patients experiencing overdose and withdrawal: "In the months of April, we were able to administer 7 doses of buprenorphine, and then as well as in May, another 7." She said the department is coordinating follow‑up care through the Post Overdose Engagement Team (POET) with the Department of Public Health and is working to develop longitudinal data to track whether those initial interventions lead to sustained engagement in treatment.

Commissioners asked technical and operational questions: how dispatch assigns ambulances versus engines, the 99‑10 internship classification and its role in the hiring pipeline, and rising ambulance patient offload times (APOT). Department staff said dispatch uses triage to send ambulances and engines as appropriate; engines may be sent first if ambulances are not available. Staff reported APOT and extended time on task are increasing, in part because of hospital congestion and more on‑scene care (IVs, 12‑lead ECGs, medication) that take additional time before transfer.

Tong and other chiefs said community paramedicine cohorts are expanding; the department will require IBSC community‑paramedicine certification (a state requirement) starting in November and will support trainees through that transition. Commissioners pressed for better longitudinal outcome metrics for patients who receive buprenorphine in the field; staff said some follow‑up is handled by POET and the department is trying to build stronger data linkages with DPH and other partners.

Commissioners expressed concern about overdose trends and Narcan usage; staff noted the quarter's Narcan use is tracking higher than some previous years and presented an estimate of projected overdose deaths if current trends continue. The department said the monthly and quarterly data are still being analyzed and that follow‑up reporting is planned.