City of Fort Worth, TX

04/30/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 04/30/2024 14:49

Committee recommends Fire Department-based EMS system

Committee recommends Fire Department-based EMS system

Published on April 30, 2024

The Fort Worth City Council's Ad Hoc Committee on Emergency Medical Response finalized its recommendations to the full City Council on the future of EMS service in Fort Worth and surrounding communities. Goals include ensuring a financially sound system and significantly reducing response times.

Why it matters: The Committee agreed to recommend the following:

  • Invite the vast majority of MedStar employees into the City of Fort Worth and absorb MedStar's assets into the Fort Worth Fire Department, with paramedics and EMTs assuming a civil service status as municipal employees of the City of Fort Worth.
  • Ending, by mutual agreement, the interlocal agreement (ILA) between Fort Worth and 13 other area communities that MedStar services, as well as transition to a contract-for-service model for EMS services for member cities.
  • The Fort Worth City Council would assume governing responsibility over EMS services in Fort Worth and with partner cities.
  • Ensuring the independence of the Office of the Medical Director.
  • And the combination of the separate Fort Worth Fire, Police and EMS 911 call centers.

The Committee's goal in these reforms is to improve response times by as much as five and a half minutes, better resourcing, a sustainable workload for paramedics and EMTs and long-term sound financial health.

What they're saying: "I believe we have arrived at a place that balances the needs of our growing community, respects the best of what MedStar does now and is financially sustainable for Fort Worth and our partners over the long-term," said EMS Ad Hoc Committee Chair and Council Member District 2 Councilmember Carlos Flores. "I want to thank my committee colleagues, staff, MedStar and its leadership, our partner cities, the Local 440 union, our community medical providers and everyone involved in this endeavor for helping us arrive at this place.

"We value the contributions MedStar employees have made and are committed to ensuring a smooth transition. We are setting up Fort Worth and our partners with the best solution now and in the future," Flores said.

"This has truly been a huge effort. I want to commend everyone involved for their passion, patience and hard work," said Fort Worth Mayor Mattie Parker. "While we have arrived at a decision, much work lies ahead to ensure the transition for MedStar employees, and their families, will be a smooth one. We will be making every effort to do our best to make it as seamless as possible."

Go deeper: The Ad Hoc Committee hired consultant Fitch & Associates (Fitch) to study the best options for a future EMS system. Fitch reported that the current EMS system did not have sufficient resources, creating high workloads, despite positive reviews of its performance with patients. Information related to the study can be found online.

The consultant evaluation was triggered by several factors that included reductions in healthcare revenues to 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 and has worked with various municipalities and public sector clients in Texas.

The Ad Hoc Committee, appointed by Parker, is chaired by 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, Nev.; Richmond Va.; San Diego and San Jose in California; Seattle, Wash.; and Tulsa, Okla. In Texas, benchmark organizations included Arlington, Austin, Dallas, Houston, San Antonio and Travis County.

What's next: City Council is set to receive a briefing on the recommendations at the Tuesday, May 7, work session.

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