Excerpts from the ForestParkReview.com:
Forest Park Fire Chief Phil Chiappetta said Metro Ambulance Service, the village’s third-party provider, is supposed to provide six paramedics to staff the village’s ambulance in three two-person shifts throughout the day. But for the last several months at least, no more than three contract paramedics have been available and that, until recently, that number was only two.
The shortfall means that Forest Park firefighters, all but one of whom are cross-trained and certified firefighter/paramedics, have been working overtime shifts to cover the gaps. Chiappetta said finding volunteers to work those shifts has, thankfully, not been a problem, but that the lingering effects of what he described as a statewide shortage have led him to approach village hall about ending the contract with Metro Paramedics when it expires in April 2023 and converting the village’s ambulance staff to full-time fire department employees.
Metro Paramedics said paramedics are in short supply nationwide and that one part of a more complex web of issues is that base pay for contract paramedics is extremely low, something that is causing people to leave the business and dramatically shrinking the pool of students who are now attending and completing paramedic certification programs. Metro has been trying to raise pay for years, something prompted by incremental increases in the minimum wage in Illinois, which is now $12 per hour. They have lost clients in other municipalities as Metro has raised prices to try and subsidize wage increases, but that right now companies like his have few other options.
Because Metro has been unable to fulfill its end of the contract with the village, Forest Park taxpayers are not shelling out any additional tax dollars to make up for the shortage. Any overtime hours paid to Forest Park firefighters are deducted from the amount the village pays Metro, so for now the financial implications in the village are minimal. That’s not the case, of course, for Metro.
Chiappetta is hopeful for the prospect of bringing the paramedic service in-house, something that is buoyed by an effort from former chief Steve Glinke to cross-train staff to serve in both roles.
#1 by MABAS 21 on January 27, 2022 - 7:34 AM
Bill Post; there were 2 more Crown fire apparatus in the Chicago Metro Area. Deerfield Bannockburn had a closed cab 85′ Snorkel and Crown Point, Indiana had a 55′ open cab Snorkel.
#2 by Joe Smith on January 26, 2022 - 5:58 PM
This describes in a nutshell why privatization is a false economy. Citizens complain about how high their taxes are and elected officials are seduced by a private company that promises to provide the service at a lower cost. Guess whose hide the savings is coming out of. This is a business model that is based on cheap labor, and when they are competing for a limited supply of prospective employees with the required qualifications, the system breaks down. In the end, one of two things happens. Either the ambulance is out of service, or fire department personnel are paid overtime to keep it staffed. It costs money to staff a full time emergency service organization that will be there when a resident dials 911. Too many people want to believe that they can get something for nothing. You can’t buy a car for $5K or a house for $50K and $12 per hour is a low wage even for unskilled labor. You get what you pay for. Elected officials need to be honest with their constituents about what it costs to maintain a given level of service, and about what they will lose if budget cutbacks are implemented.
#3 by Tom on January 26, 2022 - 4:50 PM
Bill, I believe Forest Park runs 4 man companies. Same with North Riverside. I believe Berwyn & Cicero run 4 with 3 being minimum. Not 100% sure though if that has changed.
#4 by Pat on January 26, 2022 - 4:00 PM
Bill, from what I read in the article…..Forest Park is covering their ambulance with their own full time firefighter/paramedics on overtime. And then deducting what they pay those spots from what they pay the contract ambulance company.
#5 by Cmk420 on January 26, 2022 - 12:36 PM
Just a thought, but I am sure it will go back to rate of pay. For some of these “smaller” departments, would the concept of running one paramedic & one EMT on the ambulance be a feasible option?
#6 by Bill Post on January 26, 2022 - 10:48 AM
So since Metro Ambulance Service has not been able to provide the agreed upon paramedics to man the Forest Park ambulance have they been receiving a mutual aide ambulance from a neighboring suburb in addition to Forest Park’s first responding engine company? How many fire companies does Forest Park normally have on duty beside the ambulance? I assume they would only have an engine company and perhaps a battalion chief. I also assume the engine is probably running with 3 men unless they are lucky enough to run with 4 and that they don’t run their own truck. If am correct doesn’t, North Riverside provide truck coverage into Forest Park, or does Oak Park provide truck coverage as well? Both departments are next to Forest Park. It would appear to me that they could probably split Forest Park into 2 or 3 sections to get truck coverage from the neighboring towns.
Back in the late 60s and 70s Forest Park had a Crown/Snorkel. If I am correct, the Snorkel was a 75 or even an 85 footer. Not only was it a large Snorkel but it was one of the few if not only Crown apparatus in Illinois and the Midwest. For those who don’t know, Crown was a major fire apparatus and bus manufacturer in California. They had almost exclusively built apparatus for the Los Angeles city and county fire departments plus many other California and West Coast fire departments. The Crown company went out of business in 1985 and most of the apparatus was cab over engine design. At the time they definitely resembled Seagrave cab over engine apparatus so when they went out of business the Los Angeles city and county fire department started purchasing Seagrave engines through the 1980s and part of the 1990’s.
#7 by Bmurphy on January 26, 2022 - 8:18 AM
For the vast majority of FDs nationwide that are primary EMS providers, well over 70% of calls are medical. As noted, for agencies that subcontract EMS to third-party providers, the pay rate for the contracted personnel runs, on average, 30% to 70% less than their full-time directly employed co-workers. Pay up to 70% less for running (at least) 70% of the call volume is not a sustainable operating and business model anymore. The budgetary convenience of this method has likely run its course.
#8 by Rich on January 26, 2022 - 8:07 AM
I agree that pay should raised. Departments should get away from sub contractors. Also they should lower the standards. Go back to 80s or early 90s and just test and make your own people. Also bring back cadets and volunteers. Bulid your own people. Thur training,hands-on, mentoring, you will get alot more people
#9 by Pat on January 26, 2022 - 7:32 AM
The key is that guys/girls are not willing to work as paramedics anymore for 15 bucks an hour. Especially when full time people are making triple. The same thing is happening with part time spots as firefighter/paramedics. Chicago Ridge just posted they are hiring part time starting at 17.50 an hour. That is extremely low and people aren’t willing to do it anymore.
#10 by Michael m on January 26, 2022 - 4:21 AM
It is not only the issue with Firefighters/Paramedics it runs through every industry. Look at this past Holiday season. I personally had to wait longer for gifts to arrive. No one wants to work now period. I get it, in this case the wages are low, but come on! There is a wearhouse district not too far from where I live. They are advertising jobs for 17-19 dollars an hour. No one is going to work for that anymore! Pay a living wage!
#11 by Mike on January 25, 2022 - 10:57 PM
This is happening all over. There is an extreme shortage of firefighters and paramedics in the area. A couple weeks ago North riverside did the same thing because their contract company had no employees available to work.