Arlington’s expanded EMS options are reducing hospital trips, but usage remains relatively low

An ACFD ambulance drives down Wilson Blvd (file photo by Jay Westcott)
An Arlington program that lets emergency patients opt to be taken to an urgent care has only been used about a dozen times since its launch two years ago.
In April 2021, the Arlington County Fire Department implemented a new EMS model referred to as Emergency Triage, Treat, and Transport (ET3) at the behest of the Arlington County Board.
Among the changes from standard practice, the model allows patients the option to be tran