Nurse hotline, training for high schoolers part of Wake EMS plan to address record calls

With calls for emergency assistance in Wake County on track to set a record this year, Jose Cabanas, medical director for Wake County EMS updated county commissioners, updated county commissioners Monday on plans to address staffing shortages and meet the need.

Posted 4:29 p.m. Oct 18, 2021 — Updated 10:37 p.m. Oct 18, 2021

Matt Talhelm

, WRAL reporter

With calls for emergency assistance in Wake County on track to set a record this year, Jose Cabanas, medical director for Wake County EMS, updated county commissioners Monday on plans to address staffing shortages and meet the need.

Wake EMS is expected to respond to more than 120,000 calls in 2021.

With paramedics in short supply, ambulances staffed with EMTs are responding to some calls to free up paramedics for more serious emergencies.

Wake EMS staffing shortage hits during busiest month of all time

"The goal here is, if a patient needs EMS or access to care, we’re always going to be there. But I think the future EMS service delivery is going to require that we diversify how we deliver services, we diversify options for how we care for the community," Cabanas said.

The county is also developing a Nurse Navigation Line, which would handle 911 callers who don't need critical care, and has a pre-apprenticeship program to train high school students to become paramedics.

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