County Approves EMS Agreement with Wichita

Sedgwick County commissioners approved an agreement with the City of Wichita to provide emergent and non-emergent ambulance services within city limits. Sedgwick County EMS responds to approximately 51,000 calls every year in Wichita. Of these responses, approximately 45,000 are emergent calls, meaning someone needs immediate care, and approximately 6,000 are non-emergent calls, like hospital transports to another facility.

“This new agreement reflects a long-standing, joint arrangement between the City of Wichita and Sedgwick County to provide an accredited and national award-winning EMS service for the citizens of this county,” stated County Manager Mike Scholes. “It’s imperative we find areas like this where we collaborate to provide a safe and secure environment for our citizens.”

“Sedgwick County is able to provide a high level of EMS service at the low annual cost of five dollars per person in the county,” said Chairman Dave Unruh. “Our EMS is doing a great job and we’re going to continue to do a great job.”

This agreement replaces one that had been in place since 2003. The new agreement states that Sedgwick County EMS will respond to non-emergent calls within the city limits of Wichita in less than one hour 98 percent of the time. Currently, EMS responds to non-emergent calls within one hour 90 percent of the time. Additionally, Sedgwick County may choose to have a third-party vendor assist with non-emergent transports. These vendors will be held to the same high standards expected of Sedgwick County, and residents can continue to expect high level medical care by Sedgwick County EMS.