PORTLAND, Ore. — Despite ambulance provider American Medical Response and Multnomah County having nearly a year ago reached a deal to drop the requirement that there be two paramedics responding to each emergency call, critics say they are still falling short.

This week, county commissioners at a hearing reviewed last year's settlement with AMR, in which the county bent after many years to allow AMR to staff ambulances with one paramedic and one EMT instead of the required two paramedics amid a paramedic staffing crisis .

The agreement boosted AMR's staffing and got more ambulances on the road. Right away, the county saw a big improvement to the most alarming statistic — Level Zero calls , or when zero ambulances are available to respond to an emergency 911 call.

There were t

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