The city of Denver is looking to get paramedics to emergencies faster by improving how calls for service are handled, said a top official at Denver International Airport on Wednesday.
Katherine Archuleta, senior adviser to Kim Day, manager of aviation, made the comments during a briefing of members of the Denver City Council.
Archuleta said a committee reviewing emergency medical service in the city thinks the way calls are processed plays a role in slowing down response rates.
The group plans to bring policy recommendations to the Denver City Council in March, she said. Those conducting the review include officials with Denver Health Medical Center, which provides paramedic service by contracting with the city, public officials and elected officials.
Looking at how calls are processed also may reduce the need for additional costs to improve the system, she said.
“We’re looking at how to make the most improvement at the least cost,” aid Archuleta, who recently moved to the airport after working as a top aide to Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper.
Denver Auditor Dennis Gallagher in December released a performance audit that found the city lacks clarity in how it measures ambulance response times. That audit also said ambulance response in Denver lags behind industry standards.
Stephanie Thomas, chief operating officer for Denver Health, said it costs $620,000 annually to buy a new ambulance and to hire the 10 paramedics needed to staff it.
She added that Denver Health also is studying how to reduce turnover of paramedics and how to attract more paramedics. She said Denver Health is considering surveying suburban fire departments to find out if the departments are paying paramedics that work there better than Denver Health does.
Christopher N. Osher: 303-954-1747 or cosher@denverpost.com
