TRAA: 80% compliance on Priority 1 calls

FORT WAYNE, Indiana (WANE) — The Three Rivers Ambulance Authority achieved an 80 percent compliance for “Priority 1” calls for the month of September, officials touted in a media release Friday.

According to the media release, it is the first month since April 2021 that the organization’s response time has been at the 80 percent level, representing a 7 percent increase over the previous month.

“Priority 1” calls include strokes, heart attacks, breathing difficulties and major trauma. To be considered compliant, TRAA medics must arrive at the scene of such a call within 8 minutes and 30 seconds 90 percent of the time, officials said.

The increase in compliance comes after the ambulance agency was plagued by staff shortages, low pay and complaints from local fire departments who had been conducting ambulance trips for the organization.

These problems caused the Ambulance Board to cut ties with their contractor and give the workers raises.

“Some of the changes we are implementing are already having an impact, thanks in large part to the hard-working paramedics and EMTs in our organization,” TRAA Managing Director Joel Benz said in the media release. “Statistically, this was our best month in a year and a half. We still have many challenges ahead of us as an organization, but I believe we are taking steps in the right direction.”

TRAA took over operations from its contractor Paramedics Logistics Indiana, LLC in early September and retained almost all of the organization’s employees.