New ambulance delay actually helps to save lives, Medic says

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — In an emergency, minutes can make a difference between life and death.

But a new policy at Medic has some paramedics waiting up to 10 minutes to respond to an emergency.

The new policy allows dispatchers to have more power when deciding if a 911 call needs an ambulance. They rely on other first responders, like police and firefighters, to make initial contact instead.

Medic Deputy Director John Studnek said there are certain calls, including minor traffic accidents, where paramedics most likely won’t be needed.

Studnek said Medic recently had a call where paramedics were put on hold, and it helped save someone’s life.

“A patient was not found, and we remained in place to respond to a patient with a much higher acuity,” Studnek said. “The results of this program, even though it’s only been running for a year, has impacted patient lives, and we are happy with that impact.”

The new policy has also had a big impact on the agency. With the calls rising every year, the program helps to save resources. It prevents Medic from losing coverage in critical parts of the city, because each time an ambulance is moved, another one has to move, too.

Medic’s goal is to have 7,500 fewer responses a year.

Since Feb. 14, when the program rolled out to the city of Charlotte, Medic was able to cut seven response a day, which is the equivalent of one ambulance shift.

If the agency continues to see success, Studnek said the protocol could roll out to the rest of Mecklenburg County.

“Right now, we are working with several different first response agencies. We are trying to get their commitment to see who will be enrolled in the program,” Studnek said.

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