AGENCY TESTIMONY
Hospital turnaround times and their impact on response times
0:22:34
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84 sec
Chief Fields explains how increasing hospital turnaround times are significantly impacting overall EMS response times. He details the legal requirements and logistical challenges that contribute to this issue.
- Turnaround time is the period from hospital arrival to departure for the next call
- Average turnaround times increased from 34 minutes in FY21 to almost 41 minutes in FY24
- Longer turnaround times mean EMS units are unavailable for new calls for extended periods
- Factors contributing to increased turnaround times include hospital crowding and closures
Michael Fields
0:22:34
As I as I have testified to the counsel previously, another significant factor that drives increasing EMS response times is hospital turnaround times.
0:22:44
The ambulance crew transports a patient to the hospital emergency department, they don't simply drop the patient.
0:22:51
They simply don't drop the patient off.
0:22:53
Under New York state law, EMS personnel must remain with a patient until a medical professional at the hospital takes custody.
0:23:00
And cases where the patient does not receive immediate emergency care, the EMTs or paramedics who transported the patient must stay with him or her until hospital personnel already.
0:23:12
We refer to the lymphotom that it takes from the arrival at the hospital to departing and becoming available to take the next call as turnaround time.
0:23:21
In recent years, we have experienced average hospital turnaround times increasing from 34 minutes in fiscal year 21, to almost 41 minutes in fiscal year 24.
0:23:33
This means the EMS units are not in service and are unable to get to the next 911 call for longer periods of time.
0:23:40
This increases in turnarounds this increase in turnaround times can be attributed to multiple factors.
0:23:46
Hospitals are crowded.
0:23:48
With each new hospital closure, the remaining emergency departments become busier.
0:23:53
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