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 - Outdated performance metrics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 study confirms that Mecklenburg County has built one of the nation’s strongest EMS systems for patient care. It also concludes that the system should continue evolving to keep pace with rapid population growth, increasing demand for service, and changing industry best practices. The recommendations focus on modernizing performance measures, strengthening partnerships, improving transparency, and ensuring the EMS system has the resources needed to meet the community’s future needs.
The report’s key findings include:
- Excellent patient care. The study highlights Medic’s clinical performance, including some of the highest cardiac arrest survival rates in the country, strong medical oversight, and nationally recognized clinical programs. The significant support of Mecklenburg County was also noted.
- A system under increasing demand. Mecklenburg County’s rapid population growth and increasing call volume are placing greater demands on EMS resources, requiring long-term planning for future needs.
- Response time expectations should be modernized. The report recommends updating response goals and reporting methods to better reflect today’s population, call volume, and patient needs while maintaining priority for the most life-threatening emergencies.
- Continued investment will be needed. The study concludes that maintaining or improving service levels will require additional resources, updated agreements, and ongoing collaboration among Mecklenburg County, Medic, local fire departments, and healthcare partners.
- The system should continue evolving. Recommendations include improving data transparency, updating longstanding agreements, enhancing dispatch technology, and strengthening collaboration across the EMS system.
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.
