Brewer asks for the single biggest EMS problem; Esposito says staffing
Brewer asks for the elevator pitch on what needs to be addressed, citing pay, lack of ambulances, and traffic. Esposito says staffing is the overwhelming issue and that EMS must become a career, which depends on fixing pay.
And then just finally, I think my question is just generally, what is it that you, I mean, is it?
All combination of the challenges.
It's the pay.
It's the lack of ambulances.
I assume it's traffic also.
What is the combination just in sort of like the elevator pitch as to what needs to be addressed on this?
Because it is really making people in the communities frightened and scared.
It is the staffing issue is, in my opinion, the overwhelming, the biggest issue.
We have to make sure to make EMS a career, right?
That people go there for a career, not that just go in there until they're waiting to do something else, waiting to go to fire, waiting to go to sanitation, waiting to get another job.
And we believe, and the commissioner strongly believes, that if we address the pay issue, we will have people that come here for a career and stay.
And, you know, there's a big difference between getting somebody that has taken a training class and has a little bit of experience to somebody that's been doing this for 10 or 12 or 15 years, right?
They are very experienced paramedic or EMT.
Just by looking at you and getting you to say a couple of words, has a very good chance of properly diagnosing you.
And that takes years of experience to get that.
And that is what our goal is.
All right.
We all agree with that one.
Thank you very much.