Denver Health Acts to Improve Ambulance Response Times

DENVER --

Denver Health will station an ambulance at Denver International Airport after a series of 7News reports that highlighted gaps in the city’s emergency response.

“We are committed to try and make as many improvements as we possibly can,” Denver Health CEO Patty Gabow said after a Denver City Council committee meeting on ambulance response.

Along with the DIA ambulance, Denver Health officials said they will streamline the 911 call system and that will cut about 2 minutes from the average ambulance response.

CALL7 Investigator Tony Kovaleski exposed problems like lengthly ambulance response times and understaffing of Denver Health ambulances in a series of reports last year.

“People can be waiting for 12-15 minutes for an ambulance,” a paramedic told Kovaleski. "Sometimes it can even be longer than that."

The investigation also highlighted the case of a Parker woman who lost her husband after it took an ambulance 33 minutes to get to the airport in July when her husband suffered a pulmonary embolism.

DIA is the only one of five top airports in the United States without an ambulance because Denver Health officials said last year that the paramedics at the airport can offer the same response.

On Wednesday, the hospital, which runs ambulances for the city under a contract, reversed course and is now planning to have the ambulance stationed by Feb. 11.

The widow, Vicki Elgin, said she is happy that Denver Health is finally taking action that might prevent another death.

“I think any action they can take to prevent another wife from becoming a widow... a son or daughter losing a father... any action they can take to improve ambulatory care at the airport should be applauded,” Elgin said.

Bob Petre, head of the paramedic union, was pleased that Denver Health was finally responding to the concerns of his fellow paramedics and increasing the safety of Denver residents.

“Its going to increase our confidence in the ability to get patients to definitive care--- and to take care of them,” he said.

“To save lives?” Kovaleski asked.

“Absolutely,” Petre answered.