With 911 call volumes still near pandemic records and EMS staff shortages limiting ambulance availability, the Travis County Commissioners Court agreed to spend more for ambulance alternatives. Commissioners voted Tuesday to increase the county’s share in the 2024 interlocal agreement with Austin by roughly 11 percent to reach $17.6 million. The additional funds will be […]
Austin/Travis County EMS
The Emergency Medical Service for Austin and Travis County. Co-managed by the City of Austin and Travis county.
Posted inPublic Safety
Public Safety Commission encourages language accessibility across public safety agencies
The Public Safety Commission encouraged the city’s public safety agencies to continue efforts to improve language accessibility at its meeting on Monday. “It seems … hugely important that we grow our fluency across all the departments,” said Chair Nelly Ramírez. “So any little steps that we can take to sort of make public safety in […]
Posted inPublic Safety
Vacancies at public safety agencies drive overtime costs
Staffing shortages in the city’s police, fire and emergency medical services departments are driving record-high reliance on overtime. Following a request from the city’s Public Safety Commission, public safety officials provided data on overtime use, as well as some possible solutions, at the commission’s meeting on Monday. In response, commissioners voted unanimously to recommend that […]
Posted inEMS
City, EMS union reach tentative labor agreement with wage increases
The city and the Austin Emergency Medical Services Association have reached a tentative labor agreement that moves the needle on medic salaries. The city announced Monday that both sides have agreed to a deal that, if approved, would give current Austin-Travis County Emergency Medical Services employees a 4 percent raise or more, depending on their […]
Posted inEnvironment
‘Stay hydrated, stay cool and stay safe’: Austin, Travis County officials warn of heat risks
Austin has been under an excessive heat warning since late last week, putting residents – especially those most vulnerable – at risk for heat-related illnesses. Temperatures have been at or near 100 degrees, and with no end in sight, Austin and other cities in the area have offered places like rec centers and libraries as […]
Posted inCity Hall
City to start major push to recruit employees
The city of Austin announced Monday that it would begin a major campaign this week to promote difficult-to-fill jobs. Worker shortages have been particularly noticeable within Austin-Travis County EMS and the police department. According to information provided by Deborah Jennings in the Human Resources Department, the city currently has 16,316 employees, compared to 16,352 in […]
Posted inEMS
EMS chief reports improvement in collections
Although Austin-Travis County Emergency Medical Services continues to deal with a backlog of unpaid bills for emergency transport, Chief Robert Luckritz says the department has made significant improvements in its billing and collections process. As a result, Luckritz told the City Council Audit & Finance Committee Tuesday he expects to clear the backlog by mid-2023. According […]
Posted inEMS
EMS using medication-assisted treatment to reduce overdoses
Two Travis County programs are proving successful at reducing opioid overdoses and connecting people in need with treatment at a time when deaths from synthetic opioids such as fentanyl are on the rise nationally. Last week, the Public Safety Commission heard an update from Austin-Travis County EMS on the city’s opioid use disorder support and […]
Posted inEMS
Austin-Travis County EMS, city OK new raises, contract for medical first responders
Austin-Travis County’s emergency medical personnel are getting a raise. The city of Austin reached a deal with EMS negotiators late last month, and City Council unanimously approved the one-year contract with medics on Thursday. The deal is a stopgap, but it does address pay inequity issues the EMS union has been fighting for since the start […]
Posted inEMS
New EMS chief outlines progress on collections
With a projected budget deficit by Fiscal Year 2027, any news about increasing collections from those who owe the city of Austin money, including the state of Texas, is good news for City Council. Robert Luckritz, who recently joined the city as chief of Austin-Travis County Emergency Medical Services, brought some of that good news […]
Posted inPublic Safety
No clear path forward for medical marijuana use by public safety employees
Now that medical marijuana is legal in Texas, will Austin allow its first responders to use it? A Monday afternoon briefing at City Council’s Public Safety Committee meeting showed that the hurdle, for once, does not come from the state government, but from federal regulations. Thanks to House Bill 1535, Texas now allows registered physicians […]
Posted inPublic Safety
Council adopts public safety initiative to address vacancy concerns
With staffing challenges at a critical juncture in each of Austin’s three public safety departments, City Council has directed the city manager to build a comprehensive plan to address the shortages. The ATX Public Safety Vacancy Staffing Plan lays out direction for staffers to identify vacancy challenges and historical trends in each department, outline what […]