WGXC-90.7 FM

Emergency services a problem in Greene County

Dec 07, 2023 12:55 am

Andrea Macko reports for Porcupine Soup that Greene County’s Health Services Committee made a dire warning about emergency medical services, and commissioned a study to find a solution. The committee unanimously approved a resolution that said, in part, “The future of the EMS system as it currently stands is in jeopardy of collapsing due to rising costs and staffing issues.” The mountaintop towns in particular want a countywide ambulance service. The resolution also said, “Several town supervisors have reached out to the county and voiced their concerns regarding the rising costs and staffing issues." The town of Hunter says its emergency responder costs are up $250,000 this year. Making the problem worse, emergency calls are up in Greene County from 7,323 calls in 2020, to 8,672 times in 2022. The full legislature will vote on approving the resolution and and hiring an independent group to study the issue at its next regular meeting on December 20. Read more about this story in Porcupine Soup.