Monmouth County Sheriff’s Office Launches EMS Operation Amid Volunteer Shortage
Monmouth County: Sheriff Shaun Golden is pleased to announce that the Monmouth County Sheriff’s Office is rolling out a county run emergency medical services operation, MedStar. This comes in response to the critical shortage of volunteer EMTs which results in a lack of EMS services. The strategic initiative led by the Monmouth County Sheriff’s Office along with the support of the Board of County Commissioners, will assist local agencies in need with emergency medical calls and aim to ensure the most timely and effective emergency medical responses for the residents of Monmouth County.
“Volunteer EMS units play a crucial role in serving communities, but challenges have resulted in staffing shortages that are impacting response time and safety, so we are here to help,” said Sheriff Shaun Golden. “This launch of the Monmouth County Sheriff’s Office EMS Operation, MedStar, is a testament to our dedication to public safety and resolve to address the shortage of EMS volunteers head-on. It bridges the gap and enhances emergency response capabilities in struggling towns entering into an agreement with Monmouth County.”
In 2023, there were more than sixty thousand calls for service in Monmouth County that required an ambulance.
Furthermore, out of the 21 counties in New Jersey, Monmouth County ranks 19th in response times. Amid the decreasing number of volunteers, keeping up with that demand is extremely challenging. The Monmouth County Sheriff’s Office EMS Operation will assist by helping to fill that need and supplement the efforts of existing volunteer EMS squads.
“On behalf of the Monmouth County Board of County Commissioners, I want to commend Sheriff Golden and his staff for developing the County EMS operation to fill an important need of our residents,” said Commissioner Director Thomas A. Arnone. “Safety is at the cornerstone of everything we do here in Monmouth County and the Board of County Commissioners is proud to provide financial support to the County EMS operation for this essential service.”
The Monmouth County Sheriff’s Office presently has four ambulances and two quick response vehicles that will be stationed at EMS Central, located at Fort Monmouth. The county EMS unit consists of highly trained, dedicated full and part time EMS professionals who will assist and work collaboratively with existing volunteer EMS squads in Tinton Falls and surrounding areas in the central region of Monmouth County.
“I appreciate that Sheriff Golden and the Board of County Commissioners have listened to those of us in the EMS community who have been sounding the alarm that help is needed. Call volume is continuously growing, volunteer and career staffing are difficult to find, and the profession fails to receive the level of support needed at the state and federal levels, to maintain an appropriate level of preparedness,” said Michael Bascom, who has been the Monmouth County EMS Coordinator for more than 30 years, and the President of the NJEMS Task Force. “This program will support local EMS agencies in their efforts to assure that requests for emergency medical assistance are answered in a timely manner as prioritized by acuity. It is not intended to replace successful local EMS programs, but rather to supplement them and fill gaps where they exist throughout the county.”
The process will begin in the Monmouth County 9-1-1 Communications Center when an emergency call comes in and an ambulance is requested from the town with which the Monmouth County Sheriff’s Office has entered into an agreement.
If that town needs assistance, the Monmouth County Sheriff’s Office EMS Unit will respond, ensuring that emergency medical services are efficient and accessible. The services will be subsidized through insurance.
The Monmouth County Sheriff’s Office thanks the Monmouth County Board of Commissioners, as well as paid and volunteer EMS professionals, for their unwavering support and dedication to the Monmouth County Sheriff’s Office EMS Operation, MedStar. In addition, the sheriff’s office looks forward to working with healthcare partners including Hackensack Meridian Health, Robert Wood Johnson and Atlantic Health System.
This initiative will enhance emergency medical services, strengthen community resilience, and contribute to the overall safety and well-being of Monmouth County residents.
For a downloadable version of this press release, click here: Monmouth County Sheriff’s Office Launches EMS Operation Amid Volunteer Shortage
