Code 3 Movie: Bringing EMS Challenges Into the Spotlight

At Penn Tactical Solutions, most of our instructors and a large number of our clients are EMS professionals. When not working as EMS providers, we work alongside them, training first responders and equipping agencies that keep their communities safe.

That’s why the new movie Code 3 struck a chord with us. It captures two sides of EMS that the public rarely sees:

1. The humor that keeps crews going through the hardest shifts.

2. The deep systemic challenges especially in safety, burnout, funding and insurance reimbursement that threaten the future of this essential service.

By mixing sharp, relatable humor with sobering realities, Code 3 gives audiences a window into a profession that is both heroic and under pressure.

The Humor That Holds Crews Together

Ask any EMT or paramedic and they’ll tell you: sometimes the only way to get through a long night of back-to-back calls is to find something to laugh about.

Code 3 gets this right. The movie includes rookie blunders, veteran one-liners, and the sort of gallows humor that EMS crews recognize instantly. For providers, these moments feel authentic; for the public, they reveal that EMS professionals are more than uniforms, they’re human beings who use humor as a coping tool to keep showing up shift after shift.

EMS: The Backbone of Our Healthcare System

While Code 3 is entertaining, it also highlights something many people don’t realize: EMS is not just an emergency response service, it is an integral part of the healthcare system.

For millions of Americans, EMS is often the only point of entry into healthcare. This is especially true for some of our most vulnerable populations:

• Older adults who have chronic illnesses and mobility issues.

• People living with mental health challenges, often in crisis with few other accessible options.

• Low-income families who lack regular access to primary care or transportation to clinics.

When someone calls 911 for chest pain, a diabetic emergency, a behavioral health crisis, or even a simple fall, EMS providers deliver the first, and sometimes the only, professional medical care that person will receive.

Without a strong and well-funded EMS system, many of these individuals (like those portrayed in Code 3) would be left without access to lifesaving care.

The Burnout Crisis Among EMS Providers

One of the most pressing but often overlooked challenges in EMS is provider burnout. The movie addresses it but those working in the field know it well.

Because of staffing shortages and low wages, many EMS providers are forced to:

• Work long shifts that stretch well past 12 hours, often with mandatory overtime.

• Pick up second or even third EMS jobs just to make ends meet.

• Sacrifice sleep, family time, and recovery periods between shifts.

The result is an exhausted workforce of  dedicated professionals trying to give their best but often running on empty.

Burnout doesn’t just affect providers; it can impact patient care. Fatigue and stress can lead to slower decision-making, reduced attention to detail, and increased risk of errors. These are serious consequences in a field where seconds and accuracy often mean the difference between life and death.

For EMS to remain strong and safe for patients, we must address the root causes of burnout: fair pay, sustainable schedules, and adequate staffing, none of which can happen without fixing the funding model.

The Unseen Dangers on the Front Lines

Another reality that Code 3 brings into the spotlight is the physical danger EMS providers face every day, not just from the emergencies they respond to, but from the very people and environments they serve. Exposure to bloodborne pathogens, airborne diseases, and other infectious threats is a constant risk. Equally troubling is the threat of violence from patients, bystanders, or even family members at a scene.

For decades, these hazards have been treated as an unavoidable part of the job, something EMS providers were expected to accept in silence while continuing to deliver care. Code 3 portrays this uncomfortable truth, showing how the combination of unpredictable violence and infection risks adds another layer of stress to an already demanding profession. It’s a reminder that these dangers shouldn’t be normalized and that EMS providers deserve stronger protections, better resources, and public recognition of the risks they take every shift simply to save lives.

A Broken Funding Model

Despite its central role in healthcare, EMS is funded by an outdated reimbursement system that often fails to cover even the cost of providing care.

Unlike hospitals and clinics, EMS agencies are typically reimbursed only for transporting patients, with payments often based more on mileage than on the complexity or intensity of medical treatment. This leads to serious inequities:

• Calls where EMS crews use thousands of dollars’ worth of equipment, advanced medications, and specialized procedures to save a life often receive the same payment as a more routine transport. Most EMS systems don’t charge for the equipment used, only a flat rate for level of care provided.

• Calls where patients are treated in place and stabilized like lift assists, diabetic emergencies or overdoses often result in no reimbursement at all.

• Medicare, Medicaid, and other government programs frequently reimburse well below the actual cost of response, meaning EMS agencies can literally lose money each time they run certain calls.

• There is no extra funding for investing in optional but lifesaving equipment such as advanced airway devices, IV warmers/pumps, or upgraded cardiac monitors.

This funding model punishes innovation and leaves many agencies struggling to keep ambulances on the road and properly equipped.

The Public Needs to Know

Code 3 highlights both the humor and humanity of EMS providers, but it also hints at the crisis that must be addressed.

For the public, understanding this reality is critical. EMS isn’t just the ambulance that arrives in an emergency, it is a cornerstone of healthcare for millions of Americans. If we fail to support it, we risk leaving behind those who need care most: the elderly, the mentally ill, and the economically disadvantaged.

We must push for:

• Reimbursement reform that pays EMS for the care it delivers in the field, not just for transport.

• Adequate Medicare and Medicaid payments that reflect the real costs of pre-hospital care.

• Funding models that recognize EMS as a vital healthcare provider, not merely a transportation service.

• Policies that reward agencies for investing in modern equipment and training, ensuring better care for patients.

Standing with EMS

At Penn Tactical Solutions, we see these challenges every day. Agencies want to invest in better tools and training to serve their patients (often the most vulnerable members of our communities) but they’re constrained by a funding system that does not keep pace with modern care.

We stand with EMS providers who continue to show up, shift after shift, bringing emergency medicine directly to the doorsteps of those who need it most. While we provide innovative, cost-effective training and equipment to help agencies stretch their budgets without compromising patient care, true progress will come only when we reform the system that supports them.

Code 3 manages to capture it all: the camaraderie, the humor, and the urgency of a profession under strain. It’s time for the public and policymakers to recognize that EMS isn’t a luxury. It’s a lifeline, especially for those who have nowhere else to turn.

If you'd like to view what issues are affecting EMS and want to help, please visit the NAEMT Advocacy Web Page

Disclaimer: Penn Tactical Solutions is not affiliated with the production, promotion, or distribution of Code 3. Our commentary reflects our independent perspective on the movie and its portrayal of the EMS profession. For official information about the film, please visit code3movie.com