Monmouth EMS Program To Aid In Volunteer Shortage, Sheriff Says

MONMOUTH COUNTY, NJ — A county-run emergency medical services operation, MedStar, debuted on Wednesday, operated by the Monmouth County Sheriff’s Office.

The program is in response to the "critical shortage" of volunteer EMTs, Sheriff Shaun Golden said, and aims to assist local agencies with emergency medical calls "to ensure the most timely and effective emergency medical responses" for county residents.

The initiative is led by the Monmouth County Sheriff’s Office along with the support of the Board of County Commissioners, which allocated $5 million for the program, the sheriff's office said.

"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 Golden.

In 2023, there were more than 60,000 calls for service in Monmouth County that required an ambulance. Out of the 21 counties in New Jersey, Monmouth County ranks 19th in response times, Golden said.

MedStar, Golden said, "bridges the gap and enhances emergency response capabilities in struggling towns entering into an agreement with Monmouth County.”

Towns that want the supplemental service would contract with the county.

Monmouth County Board of County Commissioners Director Thomas A. Arnone said he considers the new program essential.

“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,” he said.

Service currently based at Fort Monmouth

The Monmouth County Sheriff’s Office currently has four ambulances and two quick-response vehicles that will be stationed at EMS Central, located at Fort Monmouth.

The county EMS unit has trained 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, the sheriff's office said.

There are currently 23 staff members with plans to hire additional staff - a mix of certified EMTs and paramedics. The program uses the guidelines provided by the state for continuing education, the office added.

Michael Bascom, longtime Monmouth County EMS coordinator and the President of the NJEMS Task Force, said the EMS community has been "sounding the alarm that help is needed" - and he appreciates the county's response.

"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,” Bascom said.

“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," he added.

Here's how the system would work:

• 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 sheriff’s office will work with healthcare partners including Hackensack Meridian Health, Robert Wood Johnson and Atlantic Health System, which operate the county's hospitals.