With Hospitals Reaching Capacity, COTS’s Ambulance Diversion Plan Activated More than Usual

In Central Ohio, when hospitals near capacity, they’re allowed to divert ambulances transporting patients with non-life-threatening issues to another facility. When three hospital Emergency Departments divert then the Emergency Patient Transport Plan (EPTP) is activated.

The EPTP is a collaborative system in which Franklin County hospitals and free-standing emergency departments (FSED) work together with EMS to ensure access to care. These plans are not required by law and not all communities have come together to create similar plans.

COTS is responsible for the coordination of the EPTP and facilitates the cooperation of the various emergency responders.

Usually, the EPTP is activated less than 10 times each year, however, it has been activated over 30 times since May 4, 2021. 

September is already an abnormally busy time for emergency departments so with the rise of the Delta variant this is an issue that could overwhelm EMS services.

Learn more about COTS and what they do here.