ProPublica and Connecticut Mirror seek accounts of emergency ambulance delays
Reporters are asking residents and emergency medical services workers in Connecticut to share experiences of delayed care, which some report can extend to 20 minutes.
ProPublica and The Connecticut Mirror have launched a joint public inquiry seeking firsthand accounts from Connecticut residents regarding their experiences with emergency medical services. The investigation focuses on ambulance wait times, which reports indicate can reach up to 20 minutes in certain towns, and the subsequent impact on patients' health and wellbeing. The newsrooms are also soliciting input from emergency medical services (EMS) workers and volunteers to understand the operational challenges within the state's system.
The call for stories is being conducted by ProPublica and The Connecticut Mirror, two nonprofit newsrooms. Specific reporters involved include Jenna Carlesso of The Connecticut Mirror and Cassandra Garibay of ProPublica. Interested parties can submit experiences via a brief online form or by emailing [email protected]. Separate forms are available for general residents and for EMS workers and volunteers.
The inquiry aims to highlight issues within Connecticut's emergency medical services, which are described as often underresourced. The investigation seeks to capture the human impact of delayed care, noting that statistical data does not fully reflect the long-term effects on patients' lives. The newsrooms state that while they know people in some towns have had to wait up to 20 minutes for an ambulance, the numbers do not show what happens as time drags or explain the impact on lives in the weeks and months following delayed emergency care.
The specific number of towns or the exact frequency of 20-minute wait times is not quantified in the source material, only that some towns have experienced such delays. The scope of the investigation beyond Connecticut is not defined, although the source invites people outside the state to share stories of acquaintances within Connecticut. The description of the system as strained and underresourced reflects the newsrooms' preliminary assessment or public perception rather than a concluded factual finding.
ProPublica and The Connecticut Mirror want to hear from those who have had firsthand experiences seeking care. Reporters read through every response and may follow up with individuals. Those who work or volunteer for emergency medical services in Connecticut are also asked to fill out a specific EMS experience form. The newsrooms aim to understand what the strained system actually looks like for communities across the state.
