Q&A
EMS staffing reductions and impact on response times since COVID
1:37:50
·
3 min
Council Member Lincoln Restler questions FDNY EMS Chief Michael Fields about the reduction in EMS units since the peak of the pandemic and its impact on response times. Chief Fields explains the staffing changes made during and after COVID-19, citing fiscal responsibility as a reason for returning to pre-pandemic staffing levels.
- Restler notes a 12% reduction in units since the pandemic peak
- Fields describes the shift from 8-hour to 12-hour shifts during COVID and the return to pre-pandemic measures in 2023
- Discussion touches on the budgetary constraints and the need to work within allocated resources
Lincoln Restler
1:37:50
You noted that from the peak of the pandemic to the present, there was approximately a 12% reduction in units.
1:37:59
Has during the tenure of Mayor Adams.
1:38:02
We've seen a significant reduction in the number of EMS vehicles that are out there on the streets responding, which is driven up response times.
1:38:08
I think it's the primary explanation that we've seen that you articulated in your testimony today.
1:38:14
Has FDNY requested new needs, additional staff from OMB, from Mayor Adams?
1:38:20
And has that been rejected?
1:38:22
Can you give us some insight into why this mayor has failed to provide more support and staffing to EMS?
1:38:28
Reduce response times.
Michael Fields
1:38:30
Okay.
1:38:32
So in in respects to doing the pandemic
UNKNOWN
1:38:35
Mhmm.
Michael Fields
1:38:36
2000 and excuse me.
1:38:38
2020 and beyond, we were allowed to up staff.
1:38:42
We changed the tour.
1:38:44
We changed the way that we staffed the tour.
1:38:46
It's fire tour.
1:38:46
We were utilizing 8 hour 8 hour shifts.
1:38:49
We went to the entire service going to 12 hour shifts, which allowed us to have additional resources out into the field, utilizing the same personnel.
1:39:00
Back in 2023, we went back to pre pandemic measures because we were being physically responsible in respect to the resources that we were being provided with.
1:39:13
So we went back to pre COVID measures.
1:39:16
We reevaluate response times.
Lincoln Restler
1:39:18
So just at the beginning of the Adams administration, you shifted back and have significantly fewer tours out on a daily basis that have increased response times.
1:39:26
So, I mean, I just wanna these are the facts.
1:39:27
I'm just repeating back what's in your testimony and saying it plainly and and and distilling it just so everyone can understand exactly what's transpired over these 3 years and why we've seen response times go up as much as they have.
1:39:39
So I just wanna ask about another topic, if that's okay.
1:39:41
No.
1:39:42
Hold on.
1:39:42
You wanna finish on that one?
1:39:43
Yeah.
Michael Fields
1:39:43
I do wanna finish on that because you you recap but I didn't say that.
1:39:47
I said nothing about the Adams Administration.
Lincoln Restler
1:39:49
You didn't.
1:39:50
You just gave a timeline.
1:39:51
You put a year you put a year on it.
1:39:53
I I chose to add who was the mayor at that time.
Michael Fields
1:39:55
I did give a timeline.
1:39:57
Yeah.
1:39:57
Give me specs too.
1:39:59
COVID itself went over went COVID itself, we dealt with that emergencies for approximately 2 to 3 years.
1:40:06
At the end of COVID, we went back to the response matrix that we had pre COVID, which was 2019.
1:40:14
So we went back to that response mix.
1:40:16
Right?
1:40:17
That was based off fiscal needs.
1:40:20
We we have a budget that we have to work with, and this is what we use based off So, operationally, I'm working with that budget.
1:40:26
Just give me just give me one second.
Lincoln Restler
1:40:27
Alright.
1:40:28
I got tight time, and they're gonna kick they're gonna tell me to shut up in 2 minutes.
Michael Fields
1:40:31
If you you want the answers?
Lincoln Restler
1:40:33
I do.
1:40:34
I do.
1:40:34
I'm just looking for brevity, so I appreciate
Gale Brewer
1:40:36
it.
Michael Fields
1:40:36
So in in respects,
Joann Ariola
1:40:38
Council member, let's just let him answer the question.
1:40:40
And then if you need a little extra time, I'll be happy to
Lincoln Restler
1:40:43
I appreciate the chair.
1:40:44
Go ahead.
Michael Fields
1:40:44
So in in respects to response soms, we constantly reevaluate those response soms, and we constantly abandon measures that we think can facilitate us making better response.
1:40:57
Right?
1:40:58
We have problems in respects to supervision.
1:41:00
That problem was based off of COVID and the fact that there was no examination that was placed out during that time, and we exhausted the entire list.
1:41:09
So now we have placed measures in place on the pilot program to place HLOs into respective hospitals and to utilize other resources such as paramedic response units, which are non transport units, Adam response units, which is non transport BLS units, we're hoping that those measures are gonna make it sound around
Christopher Leon Johnson
1:41:27
the resellers.
