The closing of a regional medical center in Knoxville, Tenn., has severely prolonged patient ER wait times, exacerbated an ambulance shortage and diverted firefighters from other potential emergencies as they wait on ambulances stalled at area ERs, NBC-affiliate TV station WBIR reports.
AMR Medical Transportation, an ambulance provider for the area, typically has about 20 advanced life support ambulances in Knox County at any given time. But since Tennova Physicians Regional Medical Center closed last year, only a handful have been available for patients.
"Of those 20, I've had 12, 13, 14 sitting in the ER waiting on beds," an AMR spokesperson told WBIR. "While AMR says the need for more ambulances has been growing for some time, the closure of the hospital only made it worse."
The shortage has also affected the rural fire department, whose firefighters must wait with patients while ambulances wait for beds to free up at area emergency rooms.
"Once we initiate patient contact, we can't leave. That's called abandonment. We have to stay with the patients no matter what. If there's a fire right down the street, and the closest fire truck is tied up on a medical call, they can't go to the fire until the ambulance arrives on the scene to relieve them," a Rural Metro Fire Spokesman told WBIR.