Ep 6 NAEMT Radio The 2023 NAEMT EMS Economic and Operational Models Survey

NAEMT Radio

In this edition of NAEMT Radio we discuss the 2023 NAEMT EMS Economic and Operational Models Survey with NAEMT Member at Large, Matt Zavadsky, Chief Transformation Officer for MedStar Mobile Healthcare in Fort Worth, TX.

The pandemic and EMS workforce shortage have forced EMS leaders to re-imagine their current economic and service delivery models without sacrificing patient care. In October 2022, NAEMT conducted a survey to gather national data on how EMS agencies are now funding and operating their services compared to 2019 to better understand how agencies have responded to changes in available funding and workforce shortages. Respondents represented all types of providers from the full spectrum of delivery models, call volumes, demographic regions served, staffing models, and number of personnel.

Overall, respondents reported a net increase in overall costs, averaging 8% across all cost categories. The greatest increase in costs was reported for supplies and equipment, with an average increase of 12% between 2019 and 2022. Respondents also projected similar cost increases for the next three years. Most agencies report experiencing increasing turnover rates, from 8% on average in 2019 to 11% in 2022, and a decrease in applications for paramedic/ EMT positions, down on average 13% compared to 2019. Agencies also reported an average increase in fee for service revenue per transport of 5%, and an average increase in revenue generated from public sources of 9.4%.

Respondents reported significant changes to system delivery and staffing configuration. Nearly one-half (49%) of agencies reported they lengthened response times. Over one-third (36%) of agencies reported implementing alternate response to low-acuity calls. Over one quarter of agencies reported moving from all ALS to tiered deployment (28%) and transitioning from dual paramedic to single paramedic deployment (23%). .

NAEMT Radio is hosted by NAEMT Member and Lighthouse Leadership Mentor - Rob Lawrence.

Resources:

NAEMT EMS Economic and Operational Models Survey

http://naemt.org/docs/default-source/ems-data/ems-economic-and-operational-models-survey-02-20-2023-final.pdf?sfvrsn=1fb9f493_2

About Matt Zavadsky

Matt is the Chief Transformation Officer for MedStar Mobile Healthcare in Fort Worth, TX. He has helped guide the implementation and financial sustainability of numerous innovative programs with healthcare partners that have transformed MedStar fully as a Mobile Integrated Healthcare provider. Most recently, he has led the negotiations with multiple third-party payers to change the basic economic model for EMS to better align patient, provider and payer focus on patient centered care as opposed to simply payment for ambulance transport.

Matt serves as an EMS SME for multiple consulting firms working with city and county leaders to evaluate and redesign EMS systems with a focus on high performance and high value for the community.