Q&A
FDNY's response to increasing EMS response times
1:41:28
·
124 sec
Council Member Restler presses Chief Fields on FDNY's efforts to address increasing response times, particularly regarding requests for additional resources from OMB and the mayor. Fields discusses various measures implemented to improve response times and explains the complexities of the EMS system.
- Restler cites worsening response time metrics across multiple fiscal years
- Fields mentions pilot programs like Hospital Liaison Officers (HLOs) and non-transport units to improve response times
- Discussion of FDNY's advocacy for additional resources when voluntary agencies withdraw from the system
- Fields emphasizes the need to balance resource requests with fiscal responsibility
Lincoln Restler
1:41:28
In the measures management report, there are a dozen different metrics that that look at response times.
1:41:34
And when we compare FY 21, at the height of COVID, FY 22, it got worse 22, got worse than 23, got worse than 24 for almost every single metric that FDNY has for measuring response times across the board.
1:41:46
So what my question was that I don't think we got to was did you tell OMB and this mayor that FDNY needs more headcount, needs more personnel to be able to drive down response times.
1:41:57
That's what your testimony says is that's the biggest challenge.
1:41:59
You went from 520 tours with the peak of COVID to 460 approximately to where you are now.
1:42:04
Even in your testimony, your cast member brewer a moment ago, your reference a much lower number operating today.
1:42:09
But we're still talking about dramatic reductions.
1:42:12
Where is this where is FDNY saying we need more headcount?
1:42:15
We need new needs?
1:42:16
Because we'll champion it.
1:42:17
You have a great chair in in council member Ariola who wants to help advocate for more FDMI support.
1:42:22
You have a city council that wants to advocate for FDMI support, but we need to hear it.
1:42:26
So have you been advocating to OMB and to this mayor that the response times are going up and up and up because we don't have enough people.
Michael Fields
1:42:38
I agree that having more in any system will make a system better.
1:42:44
Right?
1:42:44
But we also have a fiscal responsibility to utilize the resources that we have currently.
1:42:49
We are trying our best to do that.
1:42:52
We do advocate to say that we can utilize additional resources, but this system as a whole isn't 100% FDNY.
1:42:59
It is 68%
Santa Morales
1:43:01
True.
Michael Fields
1:43:01
FDNY 32% voluntary agencies.
Lincoln Restler
1:43:05
Understood.
1:43:05
But
Michael Fields
1:43:06
whenever a voluntary agency pulls out of this system, the FDNY has to pick up that slack.
Lincoln Restler
1:43:13
That's right.
Michael Fields
1:43:13
And when we pick up that slack, sometimes we have the personnel, sometimes we don't.
1:43:17
Every instance, when a voluntary has pulled out of this system, we have advocated and acts OMB to give us those additional resources and they have complied.
Lincoln Restler
1:43:27
Okay.
1:43:27
Could I have 2 brief questions if I'm quick?
Joann Ariola
1:43:30
If you're quick.
Mercedes Narcisse
1:43:31
I'm quick.
1:43:32
Alright.
Lincoln Restler
1:43:32
Well, I'll be quick in my questions.
