Determining Emergency Medical Service Vehicle Deployment in Austin, Texas

In 1978 the city of Austin, Texas, began a study of its emergency medical service (EMS) system to determine what services should be delivered, by whom, via what number and types of equipment, and sited at which locations. The resulting plan called for a system quite different from that in operation since 1976: four advanced life-support and eight basic life-support vehicles were to operate from two EMS-only stations and 10 shared-use fire stations. The plan, which the city council unanimously passed in 1980, has saved $3.4 million (1984 dollars) in construction costs and $1.2 million (1984 dollars) per year in operating costs. Average response time has been reduced despite an upsurge in calls for service, and equitable service is provided to those who need it most.