The decision gave the city the large logistical undertaking of creating an all-new branch of first responders that merged MedStar and fire department workers \u2014 two teams that historically saw tension.\u00a0<\/p>\n
But as the deadline drew near, city and MedStar officials grew more optimistic about the transition. The fire department swore in over 600 former MedStar employees<\/a> over May to build out its EMT staff, the two teams \u2014 now one \u2014 switched to operating on the same radio system, Fort Worth received its state EMS transport license and absorbed all of MedStar\u2019s financial and physical assets<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cWhile I appreciate everybody and everybody\u2019s efforts \u2026 it is about the end user of the product, and it is about the folks that are my customers,\u201d said Fire Chief Jim Davis at a June 25 press conference about the launch. \u201cMy customers are those employees that are serving the end user of our product, which is our ultimate customer, and that is the public.\u201d<\/p>\n City officials attributed the smooth transition to months of hard work as both involved parties navigated the transition with respect and focus on their shared mission<\/a> of public service.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cToday, the city of Fort Worth does begin a new chapter in high-quality emergency services and patient-centered care that we have a virtually established EMS system within the city of Fort Worth Fire Department,\u201d said Mayor Mattie Parker at the press conference.<\/p>\n How much will EMS cost the city?<\/p>\n The city\u2019s EMS branch has an estimated annual budget of around $87 million, Davis told the Report. About $65 million will be covered by anticipated revenue from billing insurance and patients, according to estimates based on MedStar\u2019s historical revenue.\u00a0<\/p>\n Another estimated $2.5 million will be drawn from 14 surrounding, smaller cities that will pay Fort Worth to use its EMS services. That means about $19.5 million of new city money will be going to the services.<\/p>\n In June, City Council approved a budget amendment to cover EMS expenses during the last three months of fiscal year 2025. Most was covered by $17.6 million received from MedStar, and another $5.5 million was drawn from nondepartmental general funds.<\/p>\n In May 2024, Fort Worth approved the absorption of MedStar<\/a> after deeming the third-party EMS contractor wasn\u2019t financially stable.\u00a0<\/p>\n After decades of MedStar operating financially independently, taking no money from the city budget, it came to Fort Worth officials to ask for financial subsidies to help offset its own budget deficits.<\/p>\n \u201cMedStar hit a financial headwind and came to the city and said, \u2018Listen, we are really in trouble financially,\u2019 where they were spending $400,000 a month out of their reserve to try and make ends meet,\u201d Davis told the report. \u201cThe first ask was a big ask, and that\u2019s what made the city go, \u2018No, we need to pay more attention to this, we need to have more eyes on it, and we need to bring it into the city.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n Fort Worth\u2019s third-party EMS agreement was unique for a city of its size, Davis said. In most major U.S. cities, EMS is housed within the fire department, while a few such as Austin have a city-operated independent EMS department.<\/p>\n City officials promise faster response times, streamlined service<\/p>\n The central goals of the EMS transition are to speed up call-response time by up to 5.5 minutes, leading more coordinated efforts in emergency situations and ensuring financial stability, officials said at the press conference.<\/p>\n \u201cThe city has made substantial investments in improving technology, improving our communications, all in an effort to (save) time and saving lives,\u201d said Assistant City Manager William Johnson, who oversees the fire department, at the press conference.<\/p>\n Now, calls for EMS and firefighters are answered in the former MedStar building<\/a>. EMTs are deployed out of fire stations, and firefighters are working on the same radio as EMS responders.<\/p>\n The merging of the teams has already led to better coordinated emergency responses, Davis said.\u00a0<\/p>\n On June 23, as a fire at The Cooper apartments in Near Southside<\/a> demanded a historic six-alarm response, EMTs were able to work as one with firefighters and talk to each other from the radios inside their vehicles, rather than walking up and down the street to talk in person.<\/p>\n \u201cI am so grateful that the trust has been bestowed upon the Fort Worth Fire Department to take on this mission. I am very humbled by that opportunity,\u201d Davis said, adding that the firefighters and EMTs on the streets are the \u201cforce behind\u201d him. \u201cWe are here as a circle, and I am also very humbled that 14 member cities in the Fort Worth area have agreed to come along with us on this journey, and they are true partners, and I am proud to work with them.\u201d<\/p>\n Drew Shaw is a government accountability reporter for the Fort Worth Report. Contact him at drew.shaw@fortworthreport.org<\/a> or @shawlings601<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n At the Fort Worth Report, news decisions are made independently of our board members and financial supporters. Read more about our editorial independence policy here<\/a>.<\/p>\n \n\tRelated\n<\/p>\n Fort Worth Report is certified by the Journalism Trust Initiative<\/a> for adhering to standards for ethical journalism.<\/p>\n Republish This Story<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Goss-EMSLaunch-06.jpg\")
Mayor Mattie Parker speaks during a press conference about the city\u2019s EMS transition June 25, 2025, at the former MedStar facility on Alta Mere Drive in Fort Worth. (Mary Abby Goss | Fort Worth Report)<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Goss-EMSLaunch-05.jpg\")
A MedStar emergency vehicle enters the garage during a press conference about the city\u2019s EMS transition June 25, 2025, at the former MedStar facility on Alta Mere Drive in Fort Worth. (Mary Abby Goss | Fort Worth Report)<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Goss-EMSLaunch-03.jpg\")
Emergency vehicles stand by during a press conference about the city\u2019s EMS transition June 25, 2025, at the former MedStar facility on Alta Mere Drive in Fort Worth. (Mary Abby Goss | Fort Worth Report)<\/p>\n
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