How Boston EMS prepared for traffic jams caused by Sumner Tunnel closure

THAT PATIENT CARE IS NOT IN JEOPARDY. TIME IS CRITICAL FOR FIRST RESPONDERS TRANSPORTING PATIENTS. NOW WITH THE SUMNER TUNNEL CLOSED FOR ONE MONTH, THOSE PROVIDING EMERGENCY CARE ARE NAVIGATING DETOURS TO ENSURE PATIENT CARE IS NOT COMPROMISED. IT HAS FORCED US TO MOVE SOME ADDITIONAL RESOURCES AROUND A LITTLE BIT, KNOWING THAT IT’S TAKEN A LITTLE BIT LONGER FOR OUR CREWS TO GET BACK INTO THAT COVERAGE AREA, THE HEAD OF ACTION AMBULANCE SERVICES, WHICH COVERS THE WINTHROP COMMUNITY, SAYS ALL PROVIDERS IN THE AREA WORK TOGETHER TO ENSURE PATIENTS GET WHERE THEY NEED TO GO WHEN THE TUNNEL IS CLOSED, THEY WILL MAKE ADDITIONAL CLINICAL JUDGMENTS IN TERMS OF WHERE PATIENTS NEED TO GO, THOSE HIGH ACUITY PATIENTS, INSTEAD OF GOING TO MASS GENERAL, MIGHT END UP WALTHAM AT BOSTON MEDICAL CENTER, BOSTON EMS SAYS IT’S ADDING TWO AMBULANCES FOR A TOTAL OF FOUR IN EAST BOSTON TO COMPENSATE FOR LONGER TRAVEL TIMES DURING LAST SUMMER’S TUNNEL CLOSURE, THE AVERAGE TRANSPORT TIME IN EASTIE WAS 8.76 MINUTES, COMPARED TO 8.5 FOR THE SAME TIME THE YEAR BEFORE. PATIENTS BONNIE MICHELMAN AT MASS GENERAL BRIGHAM, SAYS THEY MAKE SURE PATIENTS, FAMILIES AND EMPLOYEES TAKE EXTRA TIME AND KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT WHEN TRAVELING TO THE HOSPITAL. AND THEN LAST SUMMER, WE WERE KIND OF BRACING AND AND IT WOUND UP NOT BEING GREAT, NOT BEING EASY. BUT FOR THE MOST PART, PEOPLE WERE FINE. NOW THE HEAD OF ACTION AMBULANCE COMMENDS MASSDOT AND ALL OF THOSE INVOLVED WITH THE PROJECT FOR COMMUNICATING AND KEEPING ALL THE AGENCIES UP TO DATE ON ANY INFORMATION ON A DAILY BASIS. LIVE AT TH

The ongoing closure of the Sumner Tunnel, and the associated traffic, has ambulance crews taking a different approach to preparing for emergencies on the far side of the tunnel. For the second consecutive summer, the busy tunnel from East Boston and Logan Airport to downtown is closed as part of a $160 million rehabilitation project. This time, it closed at midnight on July 5 and will remain closed through Aug. 5.Last year's work focused on the tunnel's ceiling. This year, the focus is on the driving surface.During last year's closure, which lasted nearly a full month longer than this year's planned project, Boston EMS said it responded to 1,055 incidents in East Boston and another 620 at Logan Airport. They said average response times for serious patients and transport times to hospitals were only a few seconds slower than normal, thanks to the agency's preparation. Last year, there was also a coordinated plan with Massachusetts State Police to guide ambulances through the Ted Williams Tunnel ahead of all other traffic when necessary.A Boston EMS spokesperson said the agency again spent months preparing for this summer's tunnel closure. Their efforts include adding ambulance crews to East Boston."In addition to the two ambulances assigned to East Boston, Boston EMS will staff two more ambulances during the closure to diminish the anticipated impact of traffic congestion, detours, and volumes on smaller roadways. Adding these ambulances to frontline operations allows our department to meet real-time service demand and it will allow us to keep at least one ambulance in East Boston at any given time.

BOSTON —

The ongoing closure of the Sumner Tunnel, and the associated traffic, has ambulance crews taking a different approach to preparing for emergencies on the far side of the tunnel.

For the second consecutive summer, the busy tunnel from East Boston and Logan Airport to downtown is closed as part of a $160 million rehabilitation project. This time, it closed at midnight on July 5 and will remain closed through Aug. 5.

Last year's work focused on the tunnel's ceiling. This year, the focus is on the driving surface.

During last year's closure, which lasted nearly a full month longer than this year's planned project, Boston EMS said it responded to 1,055 incidents in East Boston and another 620 at Logan Airport. They said average response times for serious patients and transport times to hospitals were only a few seconds slower than normal, thanks to the agency's preparation.

Last year, there was also a coordinated plan with Massachusetts State Police to guide ambulances through the Ted Williams Tunnel ahead of all other traffic when necessary.

A Boston EMS spokesperson said the agency again spent months preparing for this summer's tunnel closure. Their efforts include adding ambulance crews to East Boston.

"In addition to the two ambulances assigned to East Boston, Boston EMS will staff two more ambulances during the closure to diminish the anticipated impact of traffic congestion, detours, and volumes on smaller roadways. Adding these ambulances to frontline operations allows our department to meet real-time service demand and it will allow us to keep at least one ambulance in East Boston at any given time.

How Boston EMS prepared for traffic jams caused by Sumner Tunnel closure

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