SHARPSBURG, MD — With flu season ramping up, Sharpsburg Area EMS says they don’t control who gets placed in the hospital for care. They offered an explanation of how patients might be prioritized.
“As flu season is in full swing, our local hospitals are experiencing very high patient volumes. We want to help our community understand how to best access care while ensuring emergency resources remain available for true emergencies.
Whenever possible, please consider using your primary care provider or urgent care for non-emergency medical needs. This helps reduce strain on emergency departments so they can focus on patients with life-threatening conditions.
There is a common misunderstanding that calling 911 guarantees immediate placement in a hospital room. When EMS arrives at the hospital, our providers give a detailed report to hospital staff, and the hospital immediately begins its triage process. Patients are prioritized based on the severity of their condition, alongside patients already in the emergency department and those arriving by EMS. This means some patients may still wait in the triage or waiting area, even if they arrived by ambulance.
Over the past several days, some patients have become upset or even hostile toward our crews regarding hospital placement decisions. We want to emphasize that EMS does not control room placement—these decisions are made by hospital staff based on medical urgency to ensure the sickest patients receive care first.
That said, Sharpsburg EMS strongly encourages anyone who feels they are experiencing a true emergency to call 911 without hesitation. We are here to serve our community and will always respond when you need us.
Our goal in sharing this information is to provide education so you can make the best decision for your care and help ensure the highest level of service for our entire community. Thank you for your understanding, patience, and continued support of your local EMS providers.”
