CHARLOTTE -- Medic is testing a new policy to better allocate its ambulances.

This month it started holding some of its ambulances for certain 911 calls across the City of Charlotte.

Instead of immediately responding to 911 calls where requests for fire or police are made, MEDIC is holding its ambulances.

"In those incidents where we don't know what is going on at a scene, we'll wait, let our first responders determine what is going on and then send our ambulance," said MEDIC Deputy Director Jonathan Studnek.

Medic said implementing the hold policy frees up ambulances to respond to calls where critical care is actually needed.

Ambulances will still immediately be sent for critical calls including things like gunshot wounds and people suffering chest pain.