2021 Year-End Statistics Report to the Public
When someone calls 911, they expect the reason they’re calling to be taken seriously, and for
first responders to arrive without delay. In 2021, San Juan Island EMS responded to 1,084 calls,
all of which were handled efficiently and promptly. Our statistics for 2021 reflect the hard work
our agency put into ensuring every person who called 911 for EMS services on San Juan Island
received quality patient care in 2021.
Of the 1,084 calls that San Juan Island EMS responded to, 74% resulted in transporting the
patient for further care, whether by air for mainland care or PeaceHealth. About 64% of all calls
came from within the town of Friday Harbor, 22% came from mid-island, 9% came from Roche
Harbor, and 5% came from The Cape. In 2021, San Juan Island EMS responded to 13 outerisland
911 calls.
In 2021, San Juan Island EMS had an overall average response time of 9 minutes and 30
seconds; our response time included an average 2 minute and 16 second chute time (or time it
takes to do a safety check, find the address, and for the ambulance to leave the station). The
average response time to the scene for a 911 non interfacility response call in the town of Friday
Harbor was 6:06; mid-island was 10:22; The Cape was 14:52; Roche Harbor area was 18:18. The
average response time to scene in the town of Friday Harbor including interfacility transfers and
non-urgent calls was 7:18.
San Juan Island EMS has excellent patient satisfaction rates. In our most recently quarterly
report from EMS Survey Connect, we ranked 3rd out of 188 agencies. 99% of patients would
recommend our services to others, and San Juan Island EMS was rated at 96% for satisfaction in
response time and 97% for care shown by medics.
Please remember to give our ambulances room. When possible, patients are transported without
lights and sirens at a normal speed.
San Juan Island EMS takes seriously its commitment to the public. As a tax-funded special
purpose district, we strive to be open with the community about how tax dollars are utilized. If
you are interested in San Juan Island EMS’s budget for 2022, it is available on the Hospital
Districts website, along with the six-year budget plan. The statistics utilized in this report are
also available on the hospital district website under the EMS tab.
San Juan County Public Hospital District No. 1 currently operates San Juan Island EMS and pays
a large subsidy to support PeaceHealth Peace Island Medical Center. The District’s EMS levy
expires at the end of 2022. Renewal of the EMS levy for another six years is on the February 8,
2022, ballot under San Juan County Public Hospital District #1.