June 2023, Newsletter
Ambulance response times improve but there is more work to do
In response to a push by Santa Clara County Supervisor Joe Simitian, the Board of Supervisors got an update earlier this month from the County’s Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Agency outlining recent steps taken to improve ambulance response times. It also heard updates about steps being taken to address our area's paramedic shortage through collaboration with regional hospitals, Foothill College, and the National College of Technical Instruction.
“At the end of last year, our ambulance response times were falling short of expectations. I asked for better response times, and County EMS and our private sector partner, American Medical Response (AMR), made significant improvements,” said Simitian, who serves as Chair of the County’s Health and Hospital Committee. “When you’re waiting for an ambulance, every minute counts. Now, ambulances are getting where they need to go faster than before. But there’s still more work to do.”