AMR Proposals to Replace Fire-Based EMS

Over the last several weeks, American Medical Response (AMR), a private ambulance service provider, has made proposals to several Metro cities to replace the local fire department - in part or in full - as the provider of ambulance services.  

High-ranking AMR employees have reached out to a number of Metro fire chiefs to gather facts about their fire department ambulance systems. They have also participated in meetings with individual Metro fire departments and local public officials to discuss AMR's provision of ambulance service in their communities. A senior member of AMR management has requested a list of fire service-based EMS providers from a national fire service organization.

The impetus for AMR's efforts is clearly the economic downturn and the budgetary shortfalls in many municipalities. As it tracks news articles, it targets cities with reported deficits where fire department resources are on the table. AMR proposes to come in with a solution to the economic woes by showing public officials and fire chiefs how it can cut resources and save money by privatizing all or a portion of their ambulance transport services.  

Within the last several weeks, AMR has delivered proposals or conducted meetings with fire department officials and others in Cincinnati, Dallas and Los Angeles. In Dallas, AMR provided a written proposal that outlines the reasons why it believes that AMR would be a better ambulance service provider than Dallas Fire-Rescue.

It is reported that the Dallas proposal was prompted by an informal discussion between an AMR representative and an anonymous Dallas public official at an EMS conference.

In written communications, AMR has referred to the provision of EMS and ambulance services by fire departments as services that "…distract from the primary role of the fire service."

AMR assertions addressing why fire departments should not provide ambulance services within the EMS system are operationally flawed, misleading and simply not true. Fire service-based provision of EMS is the most efficient and effective model for providing emergency medical services.

In its proposals, AMR sets forth five statements about why private contractors are better suited to provide ambulance service than fire departments. These statements are myths used as bait on a hook for decision makers.

Myth #1 Right Person for the Right Job - Highly compensated fire fighters should not be paid to do non-fire fighter work.

Fact: EMS has been a part of the fire service for more than 50 years - and even longer in many metro jurisdictions. EMS is not a distraction from our mission - it is one of our core services provided by fire fighters and paramedics within our mission.  

EMS training is part of the basic training for all fire fighters. Different levels of EMS certification exist in each state.

Myth #2 Improved Productivity - Private sector paramedics are more productive and less fatigued than fire department paramedics due to a better operating strategy.

Fact: Fire service-based EMS brings the treatment to the patient - wherever they are. Treatment by fire fighters begins immediately, even if the patient is trapped in a building that's on fire, pinned in a car crash or in a collapsed structure.

Fire fighters are long-term workers in their communities. Most fire departments have very low turnover rates. Fire fighters know about the needs in their communities…and fire fighters are highly experienced emergency medical care providers.  

Myth #3 Cost Accountability - Private sector accounting principles more accurately reflect the cost of services.

Fact: Cost accounting in the private sector is misleading as it does not consider the economies of scale that are realized from a cross-trained multi-role fire fighter/EMT or paramedic. Further, private sector accounting methods do not portray the subsidies it is provided by public service agencies that provide first responder services when they provide and collect the revenue for patient transport.  

Additionally, the fire department is already geographically deployed throughout the community to minimize response times to all requests for help. The most expensive parts of the EMS system - fire fighters, apparatus and facilities - are already being paid for as the "all hazards response infrastructure."

Myth #4 Revenue Generation - Fire departments consume taxes, private sector providers pay taxes. Every dollar spent on the fire department draws funds away from other services.

Fact: In Dallas, AMR proposed a public-private partnership with the Dallas Fire Department bearing most of the costs, and AMR collecting all of the revenue.  

AMR seeks to cherry-pick the only part of the EMS system that really has the potential to generate revenue. In the Dallas proposal, AMR proposed to use Dallas Fire-Rescue response units for initial response (stop the clock), patient extrication, treatment and packaging while AMR is only obligated to transport the patient and collect the associated revenue.

Myth #5 Competitive Efficiency - Competition forces efficiency.

Fact: Fire-based EMS systems are the epitome of efficiency. The provision of EMS response, treatment and transportation by fire fighters is seamless. One agency is responsible for the continuity of patient care and provides EMS within what is an all-hazards response model.

Metro fire chiefs and IAFF local presidents need to be aware that AMR is actively seeking to replace fire department ambulance services currently provided by fire departments.

Fire chiefs and IAFF union presidents would be wise to anticipate an AMR contact in their jurisdictions and should be proactive in developing a strategy to successfully address it before there is a proposal on the table.

A key to any response to an AMR threat or actual proposal is open and productive labor-management communications. Management and labor must be able to work together to protect their local fire department-based EMS system.  

Fire service leaders must be able to represent their EMS system's capability to deliver a timely response to a 9-1-1 call for help including patient transport…and be prepared to defend that system with data as evidence of performance. Additionally, the importance of communication and positive relationships with appointed and elected public officials cannot be overstated. This should be an ongoing effort of both labor and management and can be critical to preventing an AMR proposal from being solicited or gaining any momentum.

The IAFF, IAFC and the Metro Chiefs Association will continue to address this situation by providing information and resources as they become available. These three organizations will be meeting soon to discuss and implement ways in which they can provide further support and resources to local fire chiefs and union officials regarding this issue.

Local 93 Softball Team wins 2010 State Title!

We are the host city for next year's tournament!

Click above for info.

New study by NIST further supports 4 (or more) firefighter crew staffing

Read IAFF story

Read Press Release

Read the entire report

24 members donated at our recent

Blood Drive

Friday, July 16

9am to 3pm

At the Cleveland
Fire Training Academy

3101 Lakeside ave
Cleveland, Ohio 44114

	Donor
Recipient	O−	O+	A−	A+	B−	B+	AB−	AB+
O−	Y
O+	Y	Y
A−	Y		Y
A+	Y	Y	Y	Y
B−	Y				Y
B+	Y	Y			Y	Y
AB−	Y		Y		Y		Y
AB+	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y

Red blood cell compatibility (from Wikipedia.com)

• May 18 - Deadline for ballots to be received
• May 25 - Election results certified by American Arbitration Association and announced

Help Elect David Witner for Pension Trustee!

Please vote in the election for the Trustee position of the Ohio Police and Fire Pension.

Local 93 has endorsed and is supporting candidate: David Witner, an active fireman with Cuyahoga Falls FD.
.

Click here for a letter from President Chester Ashton

Cleveland EMS service to be integrated into the
Cleveland Fire Department

Cleveland.com Story

Presidents Ashton's Memo

CFD crews battle fire in 2 houses after house exploids in the 5th Battalion

Cleveland.com story

Explosion destroys homes on Cleveland’s eastside.

ALL SOLD OUT! We hope to place a new order soon.

CFD turns 147 years old today.

The date April 9, 1863 is the official date that the fire department was estblished by City Council.  The act was known as "An Ordinance to Provide for the Reorganization of the Fire Department."  It redefined the existing ordinance that covered the volunteer fire department and the four steam fire engine companies being manned by paid fire fighters.  The first paid company went into service at No. 1 on December 17, 1862.  On the April 9th date there were four engines in service

Lt. Edward Teare, of the Independance, Ohio Fire Department, passed away while on duty.  Inital reports suspect possible heart attack. 

Tuesday April 6, 2010 Viewing at Fortuna Funeral Home, 7076 Brecksville Rd, Independence (1 PM to 9 PM)

Wednesday April 7, 2010 Funeral Mass at St. Michael’s Catholic Church at 1000 hours, 6540 Brecksville Rd

"Honoring our fallen brothers"

3/17/10

1130am

At the Fire Memorial
(Between Browns stadium and Science center)

• Press Release for the 2010 Shamrock Club’s Memorial to Fallen Firefighters
• Memorial Booklet’s Biography sheet for FGF Edward J. Gresky

Edward J. Gresky

Last Alarm: Box 4133

February 12, 1974

Please plan on attending the memorial service, prior to the Parade.

The Cleveland Firefighters Shamrock Club will host the annual Memorial to Fallen Firefighters at the Firefighters Memorial located at the corner of Erie side Avenue and Lerner Way.

The service is held annually on March 17^th at 11:30 A.M. prior to the St. Patrick’s Day Parade.

The memorial honors our Fallen Brother Firefighters, the bravest of the brave, who have made the ultimate sacrifice in the performance of their duties. 

Seventy-six Firefighters have died in the line of duty since 1863 with the first being Paul N. Aukens on February 25, 1869 and the last, Captain Ed Carey who passed in 1995 after suffering injuries sixteen years prior at a fire.

"Two L93 members on board during Mid air collision"

VS

Click here for Video

Cleveland's Bravest defeat Cleveland's Finest in Pancake eating competition!

Cleveland Firefighters and Cleveland Police officers battled in a pancake eating competition at IHOP at Steelyard Commons.

The FireFighters ate 27 plates of cakes to the Police officers 21 plates.

Proceeds went to benefit "Rainbow Babies and Children's Hospital"