Fore Note: Below is a story that once again highlights the disaster of overdevelopment. An angle I hadn't even thought of. A few weeks ago, a person in the medical field told me how the sudden explosion in population in the east Tennessee area was affecting the medical facilities. While the population continues to grow at an expediential rate, our medical facilities are still at the same capacities and with staff shortages. This is just another unintended consequence of uncontrolled growth. Where are the developers and government officials who have caused this dangerous situation? Are they going to add onto the hospitals and buy more ambulances? Not likely. Aside from all the other disastrous effects caused by all the over development, now it's likely going to affect your ability to get proper, timely emergency healthcare. 
 

‘The Perfect Storm’

Knoxville Fire Department activates emergency operation center due to ambulance shortages Officials told WVLT News this is the first time the center has been opened when it was not in a severe weather situation.
 

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT) - The Knoxville Fire Department told WVLT News they have activated its emergency operation center, according to spokesperson Mark Wilbanks.

Wilbanks told WVLT News this is the first time the center has been opened when it was not in a severe weather situation. He credits a lack of ambulance services and overcrowded hospitals as reasons for opening the center.

AMR told WVLT News all 14 ambulances were in use at once, which is considered level zero.

Tuesday was the “perfect storm,” according to AMR’s Regional Director Joshua Spencer. In the afternoon, AMR personnel received a higher than normal demand for AMR services that succeeded available resources.
 

Simply put, there were more calls than ambulances available. “There were multiple times throughout the day there were no ambulances available,” Spencer said.

One of the issues was how long ambulances were waiting to drop off a patient at a hospital before heading to another patient, according to Spencer.

Spencer said the process should take less than 30 minutes. However, on Tuesday, some ambulances were waiting for at least an hour and a half.

“Not that that causes the problem, it just contributes to the problem,” Spencer said.
 

Staffing issues at the hospital typically cause the issue of long wait times in hospitals, according to Spencer.

AMR released a statement as well.

Knox County experienced a high volume of 911 calls this afternoon that exceeded the capacity of available resources. The EOC was partially activated as is protocol, and mutual aid was requested from other EMS providers in the region to assist with the sudden increase in demand. We have received assistance from several neighboring counties and have implemented local policies, including surging at local EDs to rapidly offload patients as appropriate, and placing all credentialed personnel on ambulances. We would like to thank all agencies for their assistance and prompt action to ensure the community was well protected during this time.

AMR

Within the peak hours, Spencer said if people were waiting for ambulances then the dispatcher would routinely call the person back and try to deliver any assistance they could.

Spencer also offered a disclaimer that often during these calls law enforcement who were already on the scene would provide the most immediate care.

As of 6:30 p.m., there were no calls holding. “The situation is under control at this time,” Spencer said.

Wilbanks said the EOC closed around 7:30 p.m. after the call volume dropped.

Knox County Mayor Glenn Jacobs’ office forwarded a statement.

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9/18/23