INDIANAPOLIS — When you call 911 for a medical emergency, you expect help to arrive in minutes. Now, as Indiana deals with a shortage of EMTs and paramedics, state leaders want to make sure that still happens.
"Who is going to come when I call 911? How quickly will they come? Who is providing the medical-saving interventions?" asked Rep. Victora Garcia Wilburn (D) – District 32. She co-authored a bill in the statehouse after hearing her constituents ask those questions more often.
"This bill will answer those questions," Wilburn said. "It's a data bill so we can understand the problems so we can offer better solutions."
House Bill 1302 would require a comprehensive study of Indiana's 800 EMS providers, the numbers, training offered, and what kind of training medics receive.
Dan O'Donnell, Chief of Indianapolis Emergency Medical Services, told 13News access to training is crucial when it comes to recruiting new medics across the state. IEMS began its own in-house training program in 2022.
"If you're in a non-major city around Indiana, it can be difficult to send your volunteer firefighter or EMT to medic school," O'Donnell said. "The numbers are limited. There isn't much access to paramedic training. That's probably the biggest thing we can do is at least start that access and make sure EMS systems are financially sustainable."
O'Donnell said the EMS worker shortage in Indiana and across the country is incredible.
"There's never really been anything like it, and we're pairing this with what has been exponential growth (in Indianapolis) in the number of 911 calls," O'Donnell said.
He said he's glad to see lawmakers looking at ways to address it on a statewide level.
"Honestly, (the bill) is about saving lives," said Garcia Wilburn. "It's about making sure when we call 911, the people answering are equipped to the best of their ability to provide those timely and life-saving interventions."
The bill passed the House of Representatives unanimously. It also passed the Senate.