- April 24, 2024
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The COVID-19 pandemic has put an added stress on Volusia County's already-stretched emergency medical services, prompting the agency to deploy its "static" ambulances around the county as needed.
During the Volusia County Council meeting on Tuesday, Aug. 17, Public Protection Director Joe Pozzo gave the council an update regarding EMS. Since 2019, Volusia has been working to address its ambulance response times by introducing its nurse triage program, addressing interfacility transfers with a dedicated ambulance unit, establishing new service centers to several fire stations, and putting in place a hybrid deployment strategy in the north peninsula and Osteen, where an ambulance was to remain to service the area for 12 and 24 hours; Ormond-by-the-Sea's ambulance was scheduled to be at Volusia County Fire Station 14 for 12 hours, based on peak times.
But, the pandemic has changed some of these measures. The ambulance unit dedicated to interfacility transfers is now back in the 911 system, and so have the static ambulances in Ormond-by-the-Sea and Osteen. This decision was made as Volusia County experienced 5,000 ambulance transports during the month of July, increased from the average of 4,200-4,400 transports a month, said Pozzo.
“We just took that out, or put them into the dynamic system at certain times of the day when it’s busy, because it is a double-edged sword," Pozzo said. "We’re also under tremendous pressure to meet certain response times and to provide the service to all of the citizens with our EMS agency. We are under great demand right now and we had to make a decision on the ambulance at [Fire Station] 36, the two ambulances at [Fire Stations] 82 and 83, and the ambulance at [Fire Station] 14, so it’s not just the one.”
County Councilwoman Heather Post criticized the lack of communication about the change. She said council had given direction in 2019 and was never informed the ambulance, particularly the one in Ormond-by-the-Sea, was being used throughout the county.
“I have a problem with that," she said. "I have a problem, number one, with council giving direction on a certain fix and then that just being changed without coming back to us."
With the nearest hospital for those residents being AdventHealth Daytona Beach, a trip that could take upwards of 30 minutes, Post said she has constituents that are upset the ambulance service they were promised is no longer there.
Pozzo said she was right, but that the county is doing the best it can with the units they have available.
“If we just leave that ambulance in Ormond, and there is another call that comes in and I don’t send that ambulance … we will get criticized for that," Pozzo said.
The discussion went on for about an hour, inciting contention among the council members and at one point Councilman Danny Robins called a point of order.
“You want me to call for a vote to cut off a council member so that they can’t speak to the director?" County Council Chair Jeff Brower asked.
“This is brewing hostility," Robins replied. "This is day-to-day operations. Chair, respectfully, this is not our position. We need to refer this back to the county manager. I have sat here for 15,20 minutes watching this dedicated employee get beat up. This is a witch hunt.”
County Councilman Ben Johnson said the shortage of ambulances and paramedics is not just a Volusia County problem, and that council should not be "micromanaging" staff.
“Realize right now that we have been in this pandemic for 18 months," Johnson said. "It may get worse and we’re going to see these things and they’re going to have to move resources all around, including how they do business.”
Post said part of the discussion is ensuring that when council gives direction, they are informed when said direction has to change.
“That’s not, despite what my fellow councilperson says, not micromanaging," Post said. "That’s my job.”
County Manager George Recktenwald said part of the issue was that he didn't view the actions Pozzo made as a model change; they have followed the static deployment model, but have had to make exceptions based on circumstances. Once an ambulance is on the road, they're in the 911 system, Recktenwald explained, and by county ordinance, must respond if they are the closest unit to an incoming call.
“These are command decisions that are going on all day long and that’s the type of system we have," Recktenwald said. "They’re up there as much as they can be up there.”
County Council Chair Jeff Brower said the problem could be solved with communication. He said he understood changes may need to be made on the fly, but asked Pozzo or Recktenwald to let the council know so that they aren't "dealing in the dark."
“We’re hearing from the public that they’re scared to death, and we can help you not have the public be scared to death," Brower said. "We can help disarm a fear that we don’t have an ambulance anymore in Ormond-by-the-Sea.”
Recktenwald said he will come up with a form or report card to keep council informed on EMS.
The County Council was supposed to review the slate of projects to be funded by American Rescue Plan Act coronavirus relief dollars, but based on the lengthy EMS discussion, the council voted 6-1 to table the item until a workshop on Aug. 31.
With $107 million available, Post suggested using those funds to address current staffing and ambulance needs in EMS. But Pozzo, Recktenwald and some County Council members were wary of using the one-time federal funds to employ new paramedics, as that would require a property tax increase in the future to be able to continue to staff those positions.
Pozzo said the county is hiring emergency medical technicians in the interim as they continue to attempt to hire more paramedics. The county manager added that the paramedic shortage is a nationwide problem. Public Safety accounts for 60% of the county's upcoming budget, and EMS was given everything it asked for this year.
The EMS budget for fiscal year 2021-2022 totals $37.4 million, up $4 million from the 2020-2021 fiscal year. A bulk of the budget increase is for personnel. The division requested funding for two paramedics and two EMTs for the next four fiscal years to assist with mandated overtime; two EMTs and two paramedics (and one 12-hour ambulance) to address increased demand for the next three fiscal years.
“So we’re doing everything we can, and you’re right on in terms of we couldn’t fill the buses if we got them here," Recktenwald said. "That’s the issue and why there’s a couple of years spacing out.”
