In this report, La Follette students assess the challenges facing rural emergency medical services in Wisconsin.
Summary
This report addresses the workforce shortages, funding challenges, and hospital closures that have strained emergency medical services (EMS) in rural areas of Wisconsin. In 2023, 41 percent of Wisconsin EMS agencies reported that they were operating with six or fewer staff members providing 80 percent of staffing hours, and 78 percent of agencies had responded to another agency’s request for mutual aid due to inadequate staffing. This problem disproportionately affects rural areas. This report examines these challenges through a combination of qualitative interviews with EMS stakeholders and data analysis of a statewide EMS survey. It also includes a comprehensive literature review of existing research, policy reports, and best practices from other states. The report recommends a variety of policy updates, including the expansion of high school EMT training programs in Wisconsin and community paramedicine. It also advocates for robust investments in communities with the poorest EMS reliability and health outcomes.
Information
- Course: Workshop in Public Affairs, PA 869, taught by Mary Michaud, Spring 2025
- Authors: Francis Amedoadzi, Anthony Carreno, Sammy Rothman, Lisa Severini, and Gatiosso Traore
- Client: Wisconsin Office of Rural Health