City of Fort Worth, TX

04/17/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 04/17/2024 04:10

Council Committee focuses on a single option for future of EMS service

Council Committee focuses on a single option for future of EMS service

Published on April 17, 2024

The Fort Worth City Council's Ad Hoc Committee on Emergency Medical Response moved a step closer to finalizing its recommendation for the future of EMS service in Fort Worth and surrounding communities. The Committee focused on the option that integrates EMS service into the Fort Worth Fire Department. Under this option, governance of the EMS program would rest with the Fort Worth City Council, and transport between medical facilities would be removed from emergency operations.

Why it matters: The result would be an improvement in response times by as much as 5½ minutes, better resourcing a sustainable workload for paramedics and EMTs and long-term, sound financial health. MedStar CEO Ken Simpson recommended the option as the best path forward while praising MedStar EMTs, paramedics, dispatchers and other employees for decades of exceptional service.

Go deeper: If selected by the City Council, the Fire Department option could be implemented over a 12-month period at a cost of approximately $10 million annually. Consultant Fitch & Associates initially presented the Ad Hoc Committee with four options to ensure a financially sound system and significantly reduce response times. The Committee will refine its recommendation at the April 30 meeting.

The four options included:

  1. Current System Provider: MedStar provides emergency medical services and provides services under contract with the Metropolitan Area EMS Authority (MAEMSA).
  2. Fire Department-Based Model (Sworn Personnel or Civilian): The Fort Worth Fire Department establishes a division of EMS, and either sworn personnel or a civilian personnel model is implemented.
  3. Third Service Model (City of Fort Worth Operated): The City of Fort Worth establishes a third public safety service that provides emergency medical services.
  4. Private Contractor Model: The MedStar member cities contract with a private contractor through a competitive request for proposals process, utilizing a purchased unit-hour model.

In addition to the four options for a new EMS system, Fitch recommended a consolidation of Fire and current MedStar 911 communications facilities. Stakeholders from local hospitals and MedStar member cities also spoke at the Committee meeting, asking the Committee to ensure the independence of the Office of the Medical Director in the future EMS system.

Background: The consultant evaluation was triggered by several factors, including reductions in healthcare revenues for Tarrant County EMS provider MedStar. Uncompensated care within the EMS system forced MedStar to spend approximately $350,000 per month in reserves to keep the EMS system operating. Even though the City of Fort Worth earmarked $4.2 million in transitional funding to assist the provider, MedStar was able to balance its budget for the current fiscal year. Fitch's evaluation of the EMS system included a review of MedStar's existing organizational structure, processes, financials, call volume, facilities, first responder engagement and needs of the 13 other member cities.

The Fort Worth City Council awarded the contract for the EMS study to Fitch & Associates on Oct. 31, 2023. Fitch is a well-known public safety consulting firm that has worked with various Texas municipalities and public sector clients.

The Ad Hoc Committee, appointed by Fort Worth Mayor Mattie Parker, is chaired by Councilmember Carlos Flores and includes Councilmembers Macy Hill, Jared Williams, Elizabeth Beck and Charles Lauersdorf.

In their stakeholder engagement survey, Fitch concentrated on the high-level themes of governance, accountability, transparency, board function and representation, and fiscal sustainability. National peer cities used for benchmarking included Columbus, Ohio; Indianapolis, Ind.; Jacksonville and Pinellas County in Florida; Mecklenburg and Wake counties in North Carolina; Reno Nevada; Richmond, Va.; San Diego and San Jose in California; Seattle Wash; and Tulsa Okla. In Texas, benchmark organizations include Arlington, Austin, Dallas, Houston, San Antonio and Travis County.

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