Facing an emergency medical services (EMS) system that's running out of gas financially, officials in Fort Worth are considering shaking things up. The city's EMS Ad Hoc Committee got the rundown on four service delivery models Tuesday, to optimize response times and workloads, and put more control into the hands of city lawmakers, per a report by the City of Fort Worth.
One model on the table is sticking with the current set-up where MedStar wheels out the ambulances under contract. Another option is to let the local fire department take the reins with either civilian or sworn personnel. A third proposal takes a page from Austin's playbook, setting up a standalone EMS, run by the city. Finally, they're pondering a private contractor gig, where Unit Hours come off-the-shelf in a competitive bid - MedStar could be back in the game here.
"We appreciate the hard work of Fitch & Associates on this project, as well as the input of all stakeholders," said Council Member Carlos Flores, who chairs the committee, suggesting a shared effort towards, "high-level patient focused care" and a "sustainable business model", according to the City of Fort Worth.
Consultants from Fitch & Associates laid out the nitty-gritty for these options, looking into the wallet side of things with five-year cost projects, capital needs, and public funding requirements. The takeaway? Without shaking some coins out of the public purse, Fort Worth's EMS could flatline financially just like similar systems across the country, "said Fort Worth Mayor Mattie Parker.
In the EMS world, Fort Worth's MedStar cranks the siren for 14 Tarrant County towns. But with healthcare cash shortfalls causing a fiscal headache, they've been digging into reserves to the tune of about $350,000 per month. While the city fronted $4.2 million to help keep MedStar moving, the search for a long-term cure is still on. Come March 19, the EMS ad hoc crew sits back down to hash out their options.
Meanwhile, Fort Worth's bigwigs have been taking notes from cities across the country, from Columbus to San Diego, looking for a gold standard in EMS governance, accountability, and keeping the bank balance healthy. With all this on their plate, the game plan is to craft an EMS response that doesn't just react to emergencies but stands the test of time and tight budgets.
