Onslow County, North Carolina, is piloting a new way to handle low-acuity 911 calls — dispatching a single paramedic instead of an ambulance crew. The “paramedic-first” model aims to ensure transport units remain available for critical emergencies while allowing trained medics to assess whether patients truly need transport.

The program reflects a growing trend in EMS toward community-based triage and resource optimization. But it’s also sparking discussion among EMS professionals about safety, workload and the role of EMTs in managing non-emergency calls.

| MORE: N.C. county shifts to paramedic-first dispatch for assessment of low-priority 911 calls

“Some low-priority calls can masquerade as low-priority but may be a high-priority call after all. An experienced medic would catch th

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