Medic Study 2026.
The 2026 Study.
The study examines system demand, response performance, resource deployment, and long-term planning considerations.
FAQs.
Who was involved in creating the study?
EMS consultant group Healthcare Strategists was selected by an EMS Study Committee. The committee is comprised of: Michael Bryant (Mecklenburg County Manager)*, Marcus Jones (Charlotte City Manager)*, John Peterson (Medic Executive Director)*, Reginald Johnson (Charlotte Fire Chief), Ryan Spitzer (Pineville Town Manager)*, Jamie Justice (Davidson Town Manager), Guerry Barbee (Cornelius Fire Chief), Dr. Doug Swanson (Medic Medical Director), Dr. Sidney Fletcher (Novant representative; Medic Agency Board of Commissioners), Jonathan Collier (Atrium representative; Medic Agency Board of Commissioners). * Voting members approved by the committee
Why was the study conducted?
Several factors prompted the review of the county’s EMS system:
- Staffing
The COVID-19 pandemic had a lasting impact on the EMS workforce nationwide. Like many EMS agencies across the country, Medic has experienced significant staffing challenges during and after the pandemic, the worst the Agency has seen in recent history. - Demand
While dealing with staffing concerns, demand for EMS services continued to increase. Medic saw a 7% increase in call volume last fiscal year alone, representing more than 10,000 additional calls for service. - Outdated performance metrics
Current response zones and methodology for calculating response time compliance were established in the 1990s. Although Medic continues to meet contracted response time targets, the Agency saw the need to evaluate and modernize how performance is measured to better reflect today’s system and community needs. - Fire Departments
Medic and local fire department leaders have been engaged in ongoing discussions about the role of fire departments and funding structures that support those services. While all partners share the same goal of serving the community effectively, additional alignment is still needed. - Population Growth
As Mecklenburg County continues to grow and traffic congestion increases, these trends have placed additional pressure on the EMS system and its ability to respond quickly across the entire county.
What does the study say?
The key takeaways below highlight several of the study’s major findings but are not a comprehensive summary. We encourage anyone interested in the full context, analysis, and recommendations to review the complete assessment.
- Current system performance
The study found that Mecklenburg County’s EMS system is among the strongest in the nation, with exceptional clinical outcomes, a highly integrated system of care, and performance that compares favorably with peer communities (Executive Summary, pp. 4-5; Conclusion, p. 78) - Primary challenges
The current system has adapted successfully to unprecedented demand, but continued population growth and increasing call volume require the system t0 evolve. (pp. 13-16) - Performance measures
Performance measures have not been updated since the 1990s. Modernization is recommended to better reflect future expectations and resource planning. (pp. 48-55) - EMS and fire department partnerships
Realignment of fire department response strategies, deployment plans, and funding structures to meet performance standards is recommended. (Executive Summary, pp. 4-5; Funding, pp. 73-75) - Ambulance deployment strategies
Response zones should be assessed based on call volume, while alternative options for reducing travel time should also be considered. (pp. 49-57)
What happens next?
The EMS System Study does not make policy decisions or automatically create changes. Instead, it provides independent recommendations to help guide discussions among Medic leadership, Mecklenburg County, and the EMS Study Committee as they plan for the future of emergency medical services in our community.
Any significant improvements or changes will need to be carefully planned, funded, and implemented, which will likely take place over several years. The EMS Study Committee’s next planned meeting is in August, during which they will begin to evaluate and prioritize the study recommendations. As decisions are made, updates and implementation timelines will be shared with the public.
