Montgomery Co. EMS Delays Due to Staff Shortage

**Staffing Crisis Plagues Montgomery County EMS, Leading to Hours-Long Ambulance Waits**

**MONTGOMERY COUNTY, TX –** Residents across Montgomery County are experiencing critical delays in emergency medical services, with some patients waiting hours for an ambulance as the Montgomery County Hospital District (MCHD) grapples with severe staffing shortages. The MCHD, which operates the county’s sole EMS provider, is struggling to recruit and retain a sufficient number of paramedics and EMTs, creating a precarious situation for public safety in one of Texas’s fastest-growing regions.

Recent incidents highlight the escalating crisis. On May 19th, two separate emergencies – a medical call in Willis and a traffic accident in Conroe – both saw patients endure waits exceeding two hours for an ambulance to arrive. Just a few days later, on May 22nd, a patient injured in a traffic accident in The Woodlands also waited a full two hours for emergency medical assistance.

These are not isolated occurrences. Data from the MCHD Communications Center reveals a troubling trend: between May 17th and 21st alone, there were 15 calls where the *initial* response time exceeded one hour. This figure does not even account for the total time patients spent waiting for emergency care, indicating that many waited significantly longer.

The dire staffing levels are genuinely affecting patient care and placing immense stress on the existing MCHD personnel. According to MCHD officials, the district needs approximately 300 paramedics and EMTs to adequately staff its 35 frontline ambulances. However, they are currently short by a significant margin, facing a deficit of 30 to 40 qualified individuals.

MCHD Chief of EMS James Campbell and Chief Operating Officer Kelly E. Williams have both publicly highlighted the systemic challenges contributing to the shortage. The reasons are multifaceted and familiar to many EMS agencies nationwide: severe burnout among first responders, the physically and emotionally demanding nature of the job, and intense competition from private ambulance companies, municipal fire departments, and other hospital systems. These competing entities often offer more attractive pay scales, benefits packages, or less strenuous work environments, drawing from the same limited pool of qualified medical personnel.

Montgomery County’s rapid population growth further exacerbates the problem, placing increasing demand on emergency services that are already stretched thin. MCHD has been running its own ambulance service since 2001, providing continuous service to the county, but the current operational environment presents unprecedented hurdles.

In an effort to combat the crisis, MCHD is actively pursuing several initiatives. They are collaborating closely with Lone Star College to develop and train new recruits, hoping to build a sustainable pipeline of local talent. The district has also beefed up sign-on bonuses for new hires and is focusing on fostering a more supportive and positive work culture to improve retention. Despite an allocated FY 2024 budget of over $79 million for EMS, with a substantial portion dedicated to salaries and benefits, attracting and keeping personnel remains a significant battle.

The community impact of these delays is profound, raising concerns about patient outcomes and the overall reliability of emergency services. As MCHD continues its efforts to recruit and retain staff, residents are urged to reserve 911 calls for genuine emergencies to help alleviate pressure on the overburdened system. The long-term resolution of this staffing crisis will be crucial for the health and safety of Montgomery County residents.