Emergency Services
Latest Stories
Multnomah County chair continues to blame AMR for slow ambulances
Chair Vega-Pederson said the county will immediately reopen the ambulance service contract to assess ambulance staffing and response time.
Multnomah County ambulance provider appeals fine, causing finger-pointing, search for solutions
AMR has appealed the fine and argues the delayed response times are largely because of the county’s staffing requirement of two paramedics per ambulance. In neighboring Washington, Clackamas and Clark counties, AMR is able to staff ambulances with one paramedic and an EMT.
Multnomah County fines ambulance company for slow response times
Multnomah County officials announced Tuesday the county will impose a $513,650 fine on American Medical Response, the sole company that provides ambulance services to county residents.
Oregon’s EMS provider shortage reaches ‘breaking point’
Emergency medical service providers throughout Oregon are sounding the alarm about workforce shortages in their field.
Oregon’s Office of Emergency Management is now a standalone agency
The agency has been around since the early 1980s but was housed under other agencies including the State Police and the Military Department. Lawmakers approved the change with broad bipartisan support during the 2021 legislative session.
Dying on hold: How new software is creating a logjam at Portland’s 911
An OPB investigation shows in the month after Portland's Bureau of Emergency Communications launched new software, 911 hold times surged. Dispatchers repeatedly told leadership at BOEC that the software was a bad idea and, after it was implemented, they have repeatedly warned their work is being hampered.
Portland to create new first-responder program for low-level medical calls
Officials with the Portland Fire Bureau say the current system is wildly inefficient, clogging up emergency rooms, straining the 911-system and driving up health care costs. On Wednesday, fire bureau officials announced they’re trying to change the status quo with a new type of first-responder program.
Portland Street Response should go citywide, PSU researchers say
A city-commissioned evaluation of Portland Street Response says the program, which dispatches a team of unarmed first responders to non-emergency mental health and homelessness calls, should be expanded citywide.
Innovating Emergency Medical Response: The View From Reno And Portland
Portland Fire Chief Mike Myers and Brad Lee, who directs the Reno area's medical emergency response, tell us about innovations in 911 service.
Portland's Emergency Response | Left Lane Law | Dahlak Brathwaite
How can Portland's emergency response improve? Should the left lane on the highway be restricted to passing only? Then, we talk with hip-hop artist Dahlak Brathwaite.