Ambulance Services Struggle With Staffing

Nebraska is facing a growing (EMS) Emergency Medical Services) shortage, which his being felt across the state, including in Jefferson County.Greg Neemann, Director of Ambulance District #33, discussed the problem with Jefferson County Commissioners the morning of Tuesday, January 26.“So, we’re looking at 47 calls for this month compared to 61 of last year.” However, Neemann noted one of the reasons calls are down is, ‘We’re not taking any Beatrice transfers.”“I don’t have staffing to keep an ambulance here and keep our hospital satisfied. I just can’t do it. I’d love to, because we’ve turned down quite a few transfers from Beatrice,” said Neemann. “Well, they’re in a world of hurt too because, from my understanding, they used to have Midwest Medical come down to do their transfers, and they’re not doing them anymore. So, I don’t know what they’re doing.”There is currently ALS (Advance Life Support)) position open for Ambulance District #33. Neeman expressed doubt that he will be able to fill that open spot, “There’s 57 positions open in Nebraska right now for medics. So, I just don’t know if I’m going to get that filled.”Commissioner Mark Schoenrock asked, “Greg, what do you attribute that to? Is there something, some barrier?”“There’s not enough people that want to go into this field anymore,” Neeman responded. “Everybody wants to be the firefighter paramedic, you know. They just don’t want to be the lone paramedic.”Attracting medics, or any highly-skilled worker, into rural communities is a challenge, and an expensive one. Neeman said, “I spent $1,300 on flyers to send out to the paramedics.Creighton University College of Nursing noted in November of 2025, “Nebraska is experiencing a growing EMS shortage, especially in rural communities that rely heavily on volunteer responders. As emergency calls continue to climb, the need for well-trained paramedics has never been greater.”According to the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services, agencies statewide responded to more than 237,000 calls in 2023, but more than 80 percent of those agencies rely exclusively on volunteers.

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