Louisville plans to partner with private ambulance company to address EMT shortage

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- When you call 911, every second counts — but in Louisville, a shortage of emergency medical technicians is causing longer wait times and, in some cases, critical delays in care.

City officials say the problem isn't an overwhelming number of emergency calls — it's the lack of EMTs to respond.

"When Mayor Greenberg first took office, he found that our paramedics were approximately 36% lower paid than their suburban counterparts," Deputy Mayor David James said. "As soon as they got a certificate, they would go work for another agency — where they could get an automatic 35 to 36% pay raise."

The city negotiated a new contract last year, giving EMS workers the largest single pay raise in department history. James said that helped slow turnover and improved recruitment. But despite the gains, staffing is still falling short.

Louisville Metro EMS currently staffs about 10 to 14 ambulances a day, with a goal of reaching 18. In the meantime, the city is looking for outside help.

"We put out a request for proposals," James said. "That closes at the end of the month — then we'll evaluate and award a contract."

The proposal calls for a private ambulance company to supplement the city's existing EMS crews. It would not cost the city additional money, since the provider would bill patients directly — the same way Metro EMS does now.

"There will be no additional out-of-pocket cost for citizens," James said. "Whether you're in the suburban or urban service area, EMS already charges for service. The third party would operate the same way."

The goal is to ease the burden on both city and suburban responders. Currently, Metro Government is required by law to pay suburban fire departments $150 for each time they respond to a call inside the urban service boundary. If a patient is transported, the fee increases to $300.

To further reduce strain on the system, Louisville is looking at various plans for its 911 center to help triage non-emergency medical calls. City officials say not every call requires a full ambulance response.

"By triaging those calls, we can keep EMS available for real emergencies," James said.

For military veteran Aaron Hogue, who has witnessed medical emergencies firsthand, the plan makes sense.

"I strongly think it's a great idea," Hogue said. "In the military, I saw situations where every second counted. A delay can change everything."

The city expects to choose a private ambulance provider later this summer. Officials say it will be a temporary solution while Louisville continues working to rebuild and retain a full EMS workforce.

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