By Bill Carey
SA国际传媒
FORT WORTH, Texas 鈥� MedStar will soon stop being Fort Worth鈥檚 EMS provider after over 38 years.
Following six months of review, Fort Worth鈥檚 EMS committee recommended on April 16 that the city adopt a fire-based EMS model.
This change, costing about $10 million, would integrate existing MedStar staff into roles exclusively dedicated to medical responses within the fire department, the reported.
Matt Zavadsky, MedStar鈥檚 chief transformation officer, stated in a written release that the entire MedStar team is dedicated to collaborating with the city for a smooth transition.
鈥淲e are also committed to working collaboratively with the city to help assure that the more than 500 MedStar team members, many of whom have served this community for more than 30 years, are able to fairly transition into any new EMS system delivery model,鈥� Zavadsky said.
Fort Worth鈥檚 EMS system overhaul followed MedStar鈥檚 admission that rising costs and lower reimbursements challenged its sustainability. Although the city initially contemplated a funding plan, no funds were allocated.
Mayor Mattie Parker鈥檚 EMS committee proactively analyzed the city鈥檚 emergency service options, ultimately considering a fire-based EMS among four models suggested by Fitch & Associates, the consulting firm engaged last October.
The plan is to integrate MedStar staff into the city鈥檚 fire-based EMS, though it鈥檚 undecided whether they will be civilian or sworn employees. Sworn employees, who are part of the IAFF 440 fire union, receive certain protections due to their status.
Once MedStar dissolves, Fort Worth will inherit its facilities and assets, including ambulances, and will contract to provide EMS services to other member cities. Without these assets, the fire-based EMS system鈥檚 cost could jump to $50 million.