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Indianapolis EMS Merger

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Indianapolis Fire Department EMS and Wishard Hospital EMS to merge.

When I first read the story, my initial reaction was, “Finally, a cost-saving EMS merger that makes sense.” It would seem that Indianapolis Fire Department is on board with it as well:

“There are some things that this service is going to be able to do that are a lot different from what we do currently and I think they’re going to be a lot different than a lot of places around the country do,” said IFD Division Chief Scott Issacs.

Usually, this is the exact opposite path most often taken by public officials. Cash-strapped cities, looking to cut costs, seek to merge EMS and the fire department, and usually to the detriment of paramedic morale and patient care. Sometimes the fire department doesn’t want the merger – making for really bad care – and sometimes they openly lobby for it, seeing EMS as a viable revenue source and a way to justify current staffing levels in an era of ever-dwindling fires. Problem is, even when they want EMS, the fire departments see it as a means to an end, and not their core mission.

Looks like Mayor Greg Ballard and Indy Fire took just the opposite approach, though, and good on ‘em. The article states that Indiana University Medical School will take an active role in training and education, which should make for the strong medical direction that is essential for a premier EMS system.

I know that Tam, Caleb and Roberta have serious misgivings about Ballard and his anti-Second Amendment leanings, but at least when it comes to structuring an EMS system, it seems like he’s got his head on straight.

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Posted by on July 18, 2010 • Filed under: Uncategorized

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  • Suzib

    Here in Louisville, KY we have been through ALL of it. Initially a city 3rd service and a county police service. Then county went 3rd, city went into fire. Now after city-county merger we are 3rd service. It has not been an easy transition on ANY of them. We are finally getting settled, but the majority of the service has less than 5 years experience due to retirements and resignations. I hope things are better for them!

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  • http://musingsofavastright-winger.blogspot.com/ Rick

    Mayor Ballard has done some great thing for Indy.His head is screwed on correctly.

  • Totwtytr

    We won't know what they actually intend to do for a couple of years, but the initial signs don't encourage me. I see the standard rhetoric about saving money, being more efficient, and delivery services more efficiently. Which is what is said every time a fire based service merges with another service. So far, I've never seen these soi dissant efficiencies, but I suppose it's always possible.

  • Ambulance_Driver

    From what I read, I got the impression that Fire was separating its EMS operations, to be merged with Wishard Hospital EMS. The new service formed would be a municipal 3rd service, separate from Indianapolis Fire.

  • Totwtytr

    I wasn't able to discern that from what I read, but of course I found out about it from you today. It's interesting that a FD would divest itself of EMS in times like this. Good for patients, probably, but not in line with the IAFF/IAFC playbook. Off to read more about it.

  • CBEMT

    That's all well and fine AD, but what happens to the firefighter/medics? The article says that they'll be part of the new agency, but how? Are they still firefighters? Can they go back to suppression if they want, and if so, who fills that slot? How will they be paid- from the FD budget, or somewhere else? Will IFD still hire paramedics, or not? Will Wishard? Will firefighters be required to attain EMT-P as a condition of hire, or have it prior to? Will EMS paramedics or EMTs have an FDNY-style “promotion” option to go from EMS to FD without taking the exam like everyone else (a major source of friction in that agency)?

  • Dave

    Hello, Long time listener, first time caller !
    Me IFD firefighter/paramedic…..
    and actually IFD is only getting out of the EMS “transport” business, which we've only been in for 3 years anyway. Prior to 2007 when Washington Township FD merged with IFD, IFD did not run ambulances. All transporting was done by Health and Hospital (Wishard) EMS. With the Washington Twp. merger and 3 other mergers since then, IFD took over the ambulances that were operated by those “township” FD's and staffed them with non-firefighter, single role, civilian EMT's and Medics. The township firefighters who had been staffing those ambulances prior to the merger were moved to Engine and Ladder Co's to allow a min. staffing of 4 FF's per apparatus.

    So to answer CBEMT's questions……no firefighter's are being displaced ( it just means we won't be able to work OT on the ambo's anymore). The new agency, Indy EMS, will be a 3rd entity under the Dept of Public Safety (along with IMPD and IFD)
    Fire apparatus still respond on all A and B code EMS runs.
    IFD firefighters do not have to be EMT-P's or B's prior to being hired. ALL you need is a GED….the 6 month Fire Academy that IFD runs trains everyone to EMT-B standard, Haz-Mat Tech and FF I and II. IFD does encourage those who are interested to attend paramedic school though and we staff many ALS Squad and Engine Co's and will continue to co-respond with the new EMS service.

    As far as I know the EMS service will now afford the “civilian” Medics and EMT's a “career path” that the FD does not. There will be supervisory and training roles for them that the FD currently handles. I don't think the FD was making any money in the transport side of things and that's why they're getting out of it.
    Hope that answered a few questions.
    DaveO.

  • Ambulance_Driver

    Thanks for the background info, Dave.

    This confirms my earlier impression, that Indy Fire is doing the right thing for both its people and EMS in general. I'm glad to see it. From what I've heard thus far, IFD has fairly addressed many of the beefs I have with fire-based EMS.

  • CBEMT

    Thanks Dave. Sounds like the article should have been a LOT more clear, because the logistical nightmare it assembled in my head was impressive.

  • Wyatt Earp

    And sometimes, as in the case of Philly, you can save money by giving fire stations rolling blackouts. Just shut down the engines and medic units. That'll work. /snark

  • Girl

    The firefighter/paramedics are not affected by the consolidation of the two tranporting services. Those medics will still remain members of the Indianapolis fire department and respond on NON-trasporting units. The only members of IFD affected are IFD EMS which are non-suppression civilian EMTs and Medics. These members will join in a newly formed 3rd party with Wishard under the Director of Public Safety in the new EMS division. Hopefully this clears things up a bit.

  • indy dude

    The reason they are getting rid of it is because they are paying FF/EMT and medics a massive amount of overtime and costing the tax payers money. The tranport service cost city more then it ever could have made. All of this while tax payers were already paying for Wishard.

  • http://twitter.com/MedicSBK Scott

    BRAVO Indy, BRAVO! If you look hard enough, you can see me standing up and applauding.

    No offense to Fire based EMS, but in many large urban settings, it struggles. EMS needs lots of attention and focus as our volume increases every year.

    Well done, Indy…

  • Wishard EMT

    Health & Hospital is a municipal entity that oversees the Marion county health department, Wishard Hospital, and Wishard Ambulance service that Is currently budgeted from Wishard. This new 3rd service will bring current Wishard ambulance service and IFD civilian EMS together under a new division of Health & Hospital. The new services budget will be coming directly from H&H instead of trickling down through several routes. Current IFD civilian EMT/Medics will become H&H employees along side Wishard EMS which are already H&H employees. This should impact the people of marion county that live in the current IFD/various other townships outside of the inner city that are currently paying for 2 ambulance services via tax dollars. H&H has always been required to send an ambulance to anywhere in the county if the fire based units were already out. This is going to be a great thing for everyone involved I believe.

  • Scott

    I am not i repeat not an ambulance DRIVER. I hate it when people say thats all we are

  • Anonymous

    Dear Scott, please read the following:

    http://ambulancedriverfiles.com/2010/03/r-e-s-p-e-c-t/

    If that doesn’t explain things adequately, then simply try real hard to get over yourself, and don’t read my blog if the title offends you.

  • Mick

    Thanks, I am concerned because the merger is reducing ambulances. NOT a good choice for a crowded city

  • SPQR0933

    And the 3rd service IEMS emts still only get paid 1/3 of a rookie IFD FF. Hell I have been here 3 years and been doing this for 15 years, we still have to work 2 jobs just to make ends meet. The new service is not chaging that at all. but we do 80% of the 911 runs. Tell me how that works.

  • ChiEmt

    Hey Guys,

    Stupid question. I am moving from Chicago to Indy. I am a NREMT basic. If I want to run EMS calls, with this new consolidation, should I apply to work for Wishard or with IFD?

    Thanks

  • Medic3166

    Absolutly the worst point in my 21 yr career as a medic. I look at this like a “hostile takeover”. This is the second time in 3 yrs we ( EMS “division”) have been tossed around by the City. Even though the Pay remains the same (for now), we lost almost all our Perks/benifits..Kelly day ect. The Health insurance is BY FAR the worst and most expensive I have seen in the 25+ yrs I have been in the workforce. I hate to sound bitter, but we all work hard and all I ask in return is competitive pay decent health plan and a little job security.

  • firemedic436

    I assume this is McMillan, you’re an idiot, quit your bitching. If you don’t like the job, THEN LEAVE!!! No-one will stand in your way, and in fact, most would probably open the door for you.

  • John Mcmillan

    no that was not mcmillan. Unlike like you I am not ashamed to post my name with a comment. Truth is I have been around for some time and probably will be around long after you are gone. My experience people like you are worthless and are around to cause trouble for people who are trying to make a difference. In fact I am quite satisfied with the service and the direction it is going.

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