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Dutchess County Executive Sue Serino is seeking federal assistance to address the growing emergency medical services (EMS) crisis in the county. As reported by Mid Hudson News, Serino has announced a $2 million investment to support EMS initiatives before releasing the 2025 executive budget.
The funding aims to launch supplemental ambulance coverage, a public awareness campaign, and address workforce shortages. The county plans to partner with municipalities to enhance EMS reliability and response times through commercial providers. This initiative is expected to improve service diversity and potentially lower costs for municipalities.
In addition to these measures, Dutchess County is focusing on recruiting more EMS staff and implementing first responder resiliency training. This includes a peer-to-peer support network for the mental and emotional well-being of first responders. The $2 million investment serves as temporary aid while the county searches for long-term solutions to the EMS cost crisis.
Serino previously outlined the EMS crisis in March and has been collaborating with the Department of Emergency Response, local leaders, and professionals to find effective solutions.