Fort Worth Fire Department Assumes EMS Services from MedStar on July 1

Transition to Fort Worth Fire Department EMS

• 🗓️ As of July 1, the Fort Worth Fire Department will officially take over all Emergency Medical Services (EMS) previously provided by MedStar, which served the city for nearly 40 years.
• 🤝 This significant merger aims to integrate fire and EMS operations, streamlining emergency response.

MedStar Employee Integration

• 👥 Over 600 MedStar employees, representing 98% of the team, will join the Fort Worth Fire Department.
• ✅ Concerns regarding employee welfare, including salaries and pensions, have been addressed, with employees reporting satisfaction with the transition.

Benefits of the Merger

• ⚡ The primary goal of this change is to reduce emergency response times by up to 5.5 minutes.
• 📞 Combined dispatch teams have already shown benefits in streamlining 911 calls and improving efficiency.
• 🚒 Residents will see newly branded ambulances and uniforms, but the crews will be familiar faces who have served the community since 1986.

Expanded Service Area

• 📈 The merger supports Fort Worth's continued growth, with the city's population now exceeding 1 million.
• 🏘️ In addition to Fort Worth, 14 surrounding cities will also be integrated into this new EMS service plan.
• ❤️ The initiative is described as a marriage bound to save lives, emphasizing the critical importance of seconds in emergency situations.