The following was sent to Carroll County Observer from a concerned resident regarding ambulance service in Carroll County. They wished to remain anonymous:
I would like to address the issue of ambulance service in Carroll County.
First, the gentleman from Baptist was absolutely correct when he said that EMS staffing shortages are a nationwide crisis. This is not just a Carroll County problem. It is happening across America. The question is why?
One of the biggest reasons is something many people do not want to discuss, and that is the constant abuse and misuse of the 911 system.
Every day, ambulances are dispatched to calls that are not emergencies. We are sending advanced life support units and highly trained paramedics to complaints such as toothaches, headaches, sore throats, a stubbed toe from two days ago, or a rash that someone noticed a week ago. We respond to people who have been short of breath for 24 hours or longer, yet there are multiple vehicles parked in the driveway and several capable adults who could transport that person to a doctor’s office, urgent care clinic, or emergency department.
We also respond to individuals who choose to take synthetic drugs or misuse over-the-counter substances and then call 911 because they are dizzy, anxious, or experiencing side effects from decisions they made themselves. While those ambulances are tied up on those calls, they are unavailable for heart attacks, strokes, serious vehicle accidents, cardiac arrests, and other life-threatening emergencies.
Let’s be honest about another issue. Many people call 911 because they believe arriving by ambulance allows them to skip the emergency room waiting room. That is simply not true. Hospitals triage patients based on the severity of their condition, not how they arrive. Yet ambulances continue to be used as taxis to the emergency department.
What many people do not realize is that after an ambulance arrives at the hospital, the crew often cannot immediately return to service. Instead, they are forced to remain with the patient until a bed becomes available and care can be transferred. EMS personnel call this “wall time” or “holding the wall,” and it can take hours. During that time, that ambulance is unavailable to respond anywhere else in the county.
There are documented cases across this country of individuals calling 911 hundreds of times a year for non-emergencies. Every unnecessary call pulls resources away from citizens experiencing real emergencies. Every inappropriate ambulance transport increases response times. Every abuse of the system places another burden on taxpayers and emergency responders.
If county leaders truly want to understand why ambulance resources are stretched thin, I encourage every commissioner to spend a day riding with EMS crews on one of the busiest days of the week. What you will see may surprise you. You will witness firsthand how often emergency resources are diverted to situations that are neither urgent nor appropriate for a 911 response.
We must also begin looking at solutions. Community paramedicine programs, expanded telehealth screening, and changes in state law that give qualified paramedics greater authority in determining appropriate patient disposition could significantly reduce unnecessary transports. Medical professionals should be empowered to connect low-acuity patients with more appropriate healthcare resources when possible.
Most importantly, there must be accountability. As long as there are no consequences for repeatedly abusing the 911 system, the problem will continue to grow. We cannot continue treating ambulances as free transportation, free primary care, or a shortcut into the healthcare system.
The EMS staffing crisis is real, but staffing alone will not solve this problem. We can hire more personnel, buy more ambulances, and spend more taxpayer dollars, but if emergency resources continue to be consumed by non-emergency calls, the system will remain strained.
The citizens of Carroll County deserve better. They deserve to know that when they call 911 because a loved one is having a heart attack, suffering a stroke, or fighting for their life, an ambulance will be available.
The question is not whether abuse of the 911 system exists. Anyone working in EMS already knows it does.
The question is whether we are finally willing to address it.
Thank you for your time and consideration.