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Buffalo Explores Possibility of Creating Its Own EMS Service Following AMR Complaints

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Buffalo Explores Possibility of Creating Its Own EMS Service Following AMR Complaints

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WKBW) — Buffalo City Council President Chris Scanlon introduced a resolution Tuesday that explores the idea of ​​the City of Buffalo having its own EMS service within the Buffalo Fire Department.

“I think at least we can take a look at it,” Scanlon said.

scanlon

WKBW

Council Chairman Chris Scanlon speaking at Tuesday’s Council meeting.

Scanlon said this is a conversation the city has been having for some time.

However, the conversation intensified after Fillmore District Councilmember Mitch Nowakowski received complaints about AMR’s response times.

The 7 News I-Team obtained a letter sent to AMR by Buffalo Common Councilman Mitch Nowakowski, explaining that some people in his district were left “without proper care for over an hour or without any services at all.”

AMR ‘evaluates complaints’ by Buffalo City Council member about contract, response times

During Tuesday’s special session, other council members raised concerns about AMR from people living in their specific districts.

golombek

WKBW

Joseph Golombek, North District Council Member

“There is a problem. I don’t know if it’s with AMR, I don’t know if it’s with 911, but there’s no resident of the city of Buffalo that should be sitting there for two hours waiting for a rescue team,” said Council Member Joseph Golombek.

feroleto

WKBW

Joel Feroleto, Delaware District Council Member

“It took five hours to get an ambulance after his mother had a heart attack. Assuming all of this is true, that’s certainly unacceptable,” said council member Joel Feroleto.

EMS service

WKBW

Scanlon’s resolution demands:

  • The City Council will work with the Department of Public Works and the BFD to conduct a comprehensive feasibility study to establish an EMS ambulance study for the City of Buffalo
  • An evaluation of the costs and savings with this service and a report on EMS models
  • These findings and recommendations should be presented to the CC within 180 days of the adoption of the resolution, along with recommendations for next steps.

“It’s a clear indication that we want to provide the best possible service, whatever form it takes, and that’s what I’m prepared to do,” Scanlon said.
Although Mayor Byron Brown said he was unaware of concerns about AMR response times, I asked him if it was possible for the city to create its own ambulance force.

“My administration is always open to looking at ways to improve service delivery to our residents, looking at ways to reduce the costs of delivering services to our residents, so we think this is a useful review,” Brown said.

The AMR will be called to testify at a city council meeting in September. An AMR spokesperson said they are looking forward to that discussion.

AMR provided the following statement:

American Medical Response (AMR) is currently evaluating the concerns raised by Councilman Nowakowski and City Council Speaker Chris Scanlon. In the spirit of transparency, we would like to provide an update on the operational status of AMR Western New York.

Although the exclusive operating agreement between the City of Buffalo and AMR Western New York has ended, we continue to provide essential emergency medical services to the city we call home. We respect the Request for Proposal (RFP) process, which is why we submitted a response to the City’s RFP shortly after it was issued in August 2021. Although the process has been paused, AMR Western New York continues to serve our community in times of need.

AMR Western New York prioritizes responding to high-emergency calls, such as traumatic injuries and cardiac arrests, and believes our response times to these calls are in line with industry standards.

Due to the priority given to the most serious cases, lower acuity calls may result in longer response times. AMR Western New York remains committed to the City of Buffalo and continues to make significant investments in our people and infrastructure, such as development and recruitment programs, to address a staffing shortage impacting EMS systems nationwide.

These include our award-winning “Earn While You Learn” program and funding for EMT education and training through Erie Community College (ECC). In fact, 17 new EMTs are expected to graduate from the ECC program in August, strengthening our ability to continue to meet Buffalo’s emergency medical needs.

AMR Western New York invests in Buffalo because it is our community. Our first responders not only work here, they live here and continually make sacrifices to serve the people they love.

AMR Western New York remains committed to working with city leaders, allied agencies and healthcare facilities to continue to improve EMS services in the City of Buffalo. We look forward to continuing this conversation and meeting with the Buffalo City Council Finance Committee in September.

Scanlon joined Voices last week to discuss this possibility. You can watch the full conversation below.

Buffalo may consider creating its own ambulance service as questions surround AMR contract, response times

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