Fort Worth Fire Department takes over MedStar ambulance services
Fort Worth Fire Department takes over MedStar ambulance
The city of Fort Worth has officially taken over the MedStar ambulance service. The city’s fire department will now be responsible for the EMS needs of the city.
FORT WORTH, Texas - The city of Fort Worth has officially taken over the MedStar ambulance service.
The city’s fire department will now be responsible for the EMS needs of the city.
What we know:
Talks about dissolving MedStar began in September of 2023.
Since then, the Fort Worth City Council has been working out the logistics of how to the Fort Worth Fire Department will take over for the third-party EMS provider that has served the city since the late 80s.
Earlier this month, Fort Worth and MedStar employees began working together for the first time out of a central communication facility.
Now, MedStar’s 600 employees all work for the city.
What they're saying:
Fort Worth leaders said consuming MedStar will allow for quicker response times, new ambulances, and new EMS models stretching across Fort Worth and 14 other North Texas cities.
"We are already seeing the benefits of putting our dispatch centers together. We’re seeing those benefits in the idea that instead of folks getting in and out of vehicles, walking up and down the street to talk to each other, they’re talking on radios. They’re on one radio system. They’ll soon be on one dispatch system. And folks, that makes everybody safer," said Fort Worth Fire Chief Jim Davis.
Fort Worth Fire Department acquires MedStar services
The city of Fort Worth has officially taken over MedStar. The fire department will now take charge of EMS needs.
While the city of Fort Worth expects it will cost more, at least at first, to combine the efforts, leaders believe it’s worth it.
"I believe it is going to be more consistent. It is more of a consistent delivery of services across the public safety landscape of the city of Fort Worth and I believe it will provide an opportunity for a more efficient and potentially safer experience, not just for the folks on the street that are asking for help, but for providers and responders," Chief Davis said.
Leaders also hope the merger will help keep first responders on the force for longer.
Fort Worth Fire Department to take over MedStar ambulance services
While the transition to a fire department-based EMS service will cost the city, response times are expected to decrease.
By the numbers:
The fire department received roughly 500 911 calls for emergency medical services and around 200 calls for fire response on the first day.
The chief said there were no major highs or lows, which was expected given that the transition has been occurring in phases over the past year.
The Source: FOX 4's Paige Ellenberger gathered information for this story during a news conference hosted by the city of Fort Worth and Fort Worth Fire Department.