FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WOWO): The Fort Wayne Fire Department wants to take over all of the city’s ambulance services, but Three Rivers Ambulance Authority officials say that doesn’t make sense.
On Tuesday, the city of Fort Wayne announced it would pursue becoming operators of all local ambulance services. The city said it would enhance emergency medical services to the public.
Three Rivers Ambulance Authority officials said the proposed plan wouldn’t enhance medical services during a press conference on Wednesday.
“We are doing this press conference today to officially oppose the plan that the fire department presented yesterday at their press conference,” President of Paramedics Plus Ron Schwartz said.
Schwartz said TRAA’s cardiac arrest save rate is more than twice the national average.
“We save twice as many people in cardiac arrest in Fort Wayne than most other communities,” Schwartz said. “That’s not by chance. That’s not by circumstance. That’s by years of planning.”
“So, why would people want to disrupt that system? It doesn’t cost the taxpayers a penny to do that. It is tax free, it has always been tax free. Response times are outstanding. Clinical care is outstanding,” Schwartz said.
The city of Fort Wayne said firefighters respond to more than 8,000 EMS calls every year and are first on the scene more than 75 percent of the time.
“It’s clear that having the FWFD lead emergency services will position us to provide enhanced and more efficient care to those in need of emergency medical attention,” Fort Wayne Fire Chief Eric Lahey said.
If approved, the FWFD would assume all control of all TRAA equipment and assets. TRAA would be dissolved and current employees of TRAA and Paramedics Plus would be offered positions with the FWFD.
The new model would be effective July 1, 2018.
RELATED: Fort Wayne Fire Department seeks to assume control of ambulance services
1 comment
Why is FWFD trying this on? TRAA is working just fine. It’s not costing the taxpayers a dime and they provide an outstanding service! They saved my friend’s life when she had a heart attack last January.
Look, God bless the FWFD for what they do, including getting on scene first in a call situation. But the real pros with the real track record on THIS particular first-response category has to go to TRAA here. I wouldn’t want TRAA to put out my house fire, but I’d darn well want them if I were injured or critically ill.
If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it!