By Bill Carey
EMS1
CLARK COUNTY, Nev. — Two ambulance companies in Las Vegas are changing their dispatching protocols, reserving paramedics for the most serious calls to adapt to a staffing shortage.
American Medical Response (AMR) and Medic West will hold paramedics and dispatch Advanced Emergency Medical Technicians to less-acute calls, KVVU reported. The changes have been approved by Clark County officials and the fire department.
The changes came about after AMR informed county officials that they still have trouble filling open positions, and the number of paramedics in the field has not increased.
“Currently there are just 1,400 certified paramedics within the Southern Nevada Health District to serve a population of 2.3 million residents and more than 32 million annual visitors. That equates to one certified paramedic for every 23,000 residents and visitors. AMR Las Vegas and Medic West are taking aggressive steps to find the necessary local solutions to combat the impacts of staffing shortages,” GMR Southwest Region Public Affairs Manager Damon Schilling told KVVU.
The new protocol begins on July 27 and will be reviewed every 30 days.