Department of Health

Oversight of Emergency Medical Services

Emergency medical services in New York State are provided by more than 1,200 local ambulance services and other providers that are overseen by the Department of Health. These providers must be re-certified by the Department every two years and inspected on a periodic basis. However, 228 of the 1,190 (19 percent) emergency medical service providers that we tested were not recertified on time, and a number of inspections were not timely or complete. The Department also investigates complaints and other problems relating to emergency medical services. We determined that these investigations were not always performed in the required manner and were not always timely. We recommended that the Department’s oversight of emergency medical services be strengthened in a number of ways.

For a complete copy of Report 2002-S-5 click here.
For a copy of the 90-day response click here.
For a copy of the associated follow-up report click here.