LAKE COUNTY, Fla. — Lake County emergency medical services transported fewer people by ambulance this year, but the decline in patients could mean big budgets cut in 2014.
Lake EMS transported about 31,000 patients in 2013, but it wasn't enough revenue-wise, and EMS is projecting a $500,000 budget shortfall.
On average, it costs about $660 for an ambulance to take someone to the hospital in Lake County. This year, they transported 49 fewer patients than last and the new fiscal year, which started in October, is already looking much worse.
In November, EMS transported 150 fewer patients compared to one month before.
"People feel that they may need to be evaluated by an ambulance but once an ambulance gets there, they don't feel they need to go to the hospital," said Jerry Smith, director of Lake Emergency Medical Services.
The majority of EMS's revenue comes from patient transport. If the decline continues, the executive director is projecting the half-million-dollar budget shortfall.
Smith said since he's been involved since 1989, they've never seen a decrease.
WFTV
