Lewis County Shares Findings of Countywide EMS Study

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
LEWIS COUNTY SHARES FINDINGS OF COUNTYWIDE EMS STUDY

LOWVILLE, NY– Lewis County has released the results of a comprehensive Emergency Medical Services (EMS) sustainability study conducted by CGR. The study was initiated to address increasing challenges in the county’s EMS system, including declining volunteerism, rising operating costs, and increasing service demands.

Currently, Lewis County relies on a combination of volunteer and paid EMS providers operating from seven EMS bases countywide. The system includes 207 volunteers, 25 paid EMS staff, and 13 ambulances, only two to three of which are staffed around the clock, responding to roughly 3,381 calls each year.

CGR provided two primary options for strengthening system reliability:

Option 1: Lewis County General Hospital would develop a supplementary EMS unit, including two to three fully equipped ambulances available for interfacility transport and 911 support when not in use. Estimated annual cost: $1.7 million.

Option 2: Should the current system become unsustainable, the county could build a new, county‑managed EMS service capable of handling emergency, non‑emergency, and transport calls while still incorporating volunteer agencies. Estimated annual cost: $3.7 million.

A public meeting will be held this evening at 6:30 PM at the Lewis County JCC building, 7395 East Road, Lowville, to discuss the findings of the EMS report. This forum will provide EMS and Fire leadership, as well as Town and Village municipal officials, an opportunity to engage directly with CGR, ask questions, and share their perspectives on the future of EMS in Lewis County.

To read the report, please visit our website at: https://lewiscountyny.gov/departments/emergency-management/