New Omaha paramedics graduate as Nebraska faces EMS crisis

OMAHA, Neb. (WOWT) - Over a dozen new paramedics joined the Omaha Fire Department Friday after completing intensive training at Creighton University, but their graduation comes at a critical time when Nebraska faces a paramedic shortage that threatens rural communities statewide.

The ceremony at Creighton University’s College of Nursing highlights Nebraska’s growing emergency medical services crisis. 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% of those agencies rely entirely on volunteers.

Those volunteers are disappearing at an alarming rate. Only 31% of volunteer agencies say they have enough staff. 28% believe they won’t have enough volunteers to operate within five years. EMS cal