EMS appeals for assistance following the incident at Annunciation, a shooting that deviates from the norm.
In a poignant news conference on Thursday, Sen. Judy Seeberger and Rep. John Huot, both with experience in Emergency Medical Services (EMS), voiced their concerns about burnout within the EMS sector and advocated for legislative changes.
The call to action came amidst the aftermath of the Annunciation Catholic Church shooting, which claimed two lives and injured 21 people, 18 of whom were children. Sen. Seeberger highlighted the distressing state of EMS workers in greater Minnesota, stating that they are on the verge of collapse.
The Annunciation shooting, although not routine, was the second mass shooting in the service area of Jason Snetting, a paramedic, within 24 hours. Snetting, who attended a gathering at the Capitol on September 4 along with members of the Hennepin County Association of Paramedics and EMTs labor union, emphasized the importance of addressing the mental and physical toll on EMS workers.
In 2024, lawmakers created the statewide Office of Emergency Medical Services and allocated an additional $30 million in one-time funding. Of this, $24 million was directed towards grants for various statewide EMS providers, and $6 million towards a "sprint medic" pilot program. However, Sen. Seeberger pointed out that despite these investments in 2024 and 2025, there is still a lot more that needs to be done for EMS.
Rep. John Huot suggested a potential solution, proposing that EMS workers should be paid based on readiness, similar to police and firefighters. This idea was introduced in the 2025 session, but unfortunately, the proposals related to EMS worker pay and reimbursement rates did not pass.
Following the Annunciation shooting, responders were still being told to remain available for calls despite grieving. Daniel Kiley, chief steward of Emergency Medical Dispatchers, stated that there was little to no effort from their leadership to back-fill spots of EMS personnel who needed to go home after the incident.
Shane Hallow, president of the Hennepin County Association of Paramedics and EMTs labor union, echoed the sentiments, stating that funding is the biggest need for them. No relevant information was found regarding which organization proposed a reform of compensation for emergency physicians in Minnesota in 2025.
As the EMS sector continues to grapple with the challenges posed by burnout and the aftermath of traumatic incidents, the call for legislative change and improved support for EMS workers resonates loudly.
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