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Providers face ‘extreme shortage’ of paramedics, EMTs in rural Michigan
Michigan has over 500 EMS vacancies, with rural areas facing response delays exceeding 25 minutes due to low wages, burnout, and limited training programs.
- Nearly 70% of Michigan counties have "ambulance deserts" where response times exceed 25 minutes, leaving rural residents with severe service gaps and more than 500 EMS vacancies statewide.
- Angela Madden, executive director of the Michigan Association of Ambulance Services, says agencies face a compounding financial crisis because insurance reimbursement averages only $300 to $500 for calls costing $1,500.
- Recruitment efforts struggle because paramedic certification takes 10 to 14 months, discouraging potential trainees. CEO Ken Cummings of Tri-Hospital EMS says candidates avoid training, preferring immediate work without spending "money and time and energy."
- Operating on a "bare bones" budget, the Clinton Area Ambulance Service Authority covers 14 communities with only two 24-hour rigs for 26,000 residents; Webber, who leads the agency, is seeking funding increases from $17 to $45 per capita.
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9 Articles
9 Articles
Associated Press News+8 Reposted by 8 other sources
Providers face ‘extreme shortage’ of paramedics, EMTs in rural Michigan
Paramedics and emergency medical technicians, or EMTs, face a harsh reality in Michigan — shrinking revenue has left emergency medical service agencies grappling with multiple financial issues at once, with staffing being their top expense.
·United States
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Total News Sources9
Leaning Left5Leaning Right0Center4Last UpdatedBias Distribution56% Left
Bias Distribution
- 56% of the sources lean Left
56% Left
L 56%
C 44%
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