Inequities in urban emergency medical services

Abstract In the United States, systems such as Emergency Medical Services (EMS) provide rapid aid and medical care during emergencies and crisis events. EMS operations purportedly treat all callers equally, noting that certain information, such as select demographics, remains veiled until on the scene. However, disparities still persist, highlighting the need for further research investigating whether and how pre-existing inequities affect EMS response efforts. Here, we investigated differences in response times in New York City through regression analyses to (1) examine statistical disparities and (2) discover potential barriers that may contribute to disparities identified. Using data from the Fire Department of New York City, we analyzed 15,349,368 EMS response times from 2010 to 2020 to examine disparity and 1,363,382 response times from 2020 to investigate potential barriers. Results revealed significant inconsistencies in response times and failure to meet industry standards in higher-risk areas. This study elucidates the need for addressing such inequities and advancing equitable emergency management practices.