EMS medics stationed at Austin Airport for faster response

Austin, Texas – As part of the pilot program, Austin-Travis County EMS will deploy medics at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport as part of a pilot program to improve response times.

Medics no longer have to drive and park at the airport to get to the Barbara Jordan terminal. They can reach travelers in need much faster with medics on site.

The Austin Fire Department has a similar program with the fire department for the AUS at the airport airfield.

Since 2014, ATCEMS has seen a steady increase in calls to Australia, averaging around 12% per year. Officials say that due to the increase in numbers, ATCEMS are sometimes unable to respond to other emergencies, requiring them to use EMS resources that are further away.

An urban survey of ATCEMS incidents in AUS found that patients are treated on site and discharged in approximately 65% ​​of cases.

“When we looked at various options to support our growing volume of calls at the airport, we found that most of these patients do not get to the hospital, which means that we do not have to call an ambulance,” he said. ATCEMS leader Robert Lukritz. “We looked at some creative solutions with our partners at AUS and came up with the idea of ​​placing paramedics inside the airport, which would not only significantly reduce our response time, but also reduce the impact of these incidents on our system as a whole.”

For now, ATCEMS medics will be housed in temporary crew quarters as the AUS completes construction on their permanent home. Upon completion, crew quarters will be located on the safe side of the terminal near gate 20.

Both AUS and ATCEMS have been hard at work launching the program just in time for Austin’s spring festival season, when historically there has been a surge in travelers moving through the airport, and thus an increase in ambulance calls.

Jacqueline Yaft, Chief Executive Officer of AUS, said: “Last year we had the busiest year on record, which meant more passengers in the terminal and cars on our roads during busy journeys. Programs like this are important in identifying opportunities to further enhance the service we offer to the tens of thousands of people who fly in and out of Australia every day.”

The program was spearheaded by Austin City Councilwoman Vanessa Fuentes, whose area covers the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport. It was included in the FY 2023 budget as a pilot program and co-sponsored by then Mayor Pro Tem Alter and Council members Towo, Poole and Ellis.