NYC’s EMS Response Times Surge: City Officials Push for Urgent Upgrades and Funding

The New York City Fire Department (FDNY) and Emergency Management gathered for a budget hearing on March 14, 2025, focusing on rising emergency medical service (EMS) response times and strategies to enhance efficiency. Officials disclosed that response times for life-threatening medical emergencies increased from an average of 10 minutes and 37 seconds to 11 minutes and 21 seconds in early 2025. This delay has raised urgent concerns for both public safety and city officials.

The increase in delay has multiple contributing factors, according to FDNY Commissioner Laura Kavanagh. She emphasized that while her department aims to improve response times, a multifaceted approach is necessary. To address the delays, the department has initiated several programs. One key effort involves placing EMS officers within hospital emergency departments to reduce the time paramedics spend waiting to transfer patients—currently taking upwards of 40 minutes in some cases (Source: https://youtu.be/Khxa1OTaIVA&t=204). Additionally, the FDNY has deployed paramedic response units that deliver critical care without transporting patients, allowing ambulances to return to service more quickly.

Commissioner Kavanagh also highlighted a recent policy change that requires ambulances to transport patients to the closest appropriate hospital rather than allowing patients to choose their destination. This adjustment is projected to decrease transport times significantly (Source: https://youtu.be/Khxa1OTaIVA&t=313). In recognition of the staff shortages within EMS, which have resulted from high turnover rates attributed to low pay, the city has committed to increasing funding to boost recruitment and staffing levels (Source: https://youtu.be/Khxa1OTaIVA&t=10188).

Council members scrutinized the long-standing staffing challenges faced by EMS. It was noted during the hearing that a concerning 75% of advanced life support ambulances in the Bronx exceeded the 10-minute response time benchmark each month since late 2023 (Source: https://youtu.be/Khxa1OTaIVA&t=10108). Some council members called for an increase in EMS funding to adequately staff units and meet rising service demands, which they deem essential for ensuring timely medical responses to life-threatening situations (Source: https://youtu.be/Khxa1OTaIVA&t=10108).

The ongoing discussion of technology’s role in improving service delivery featured prominently in the hearing. Commissioner Kavanagh affirmed the FDNY’s commitment to developing a new dispatch system integrated with existing fire department data systems. This initiative aims to leverage advanced technology, including artificial intelligence, to enhance operational efficiency and improve response times (Source: https://youtu.be/Khxa1OTaIVA&t=1762).

As New York City navigates these critical public safety challenges, the collective efforts of city officials, the FDNY, and EMS personnel aim to restore timely and effective emergency response in order to safeguard the health and wellbeing of all New Yorkers.