excerpts from illinoistimes.com;

The union representing Springfield firefighters wants to see the city move into the ambulance business, transporting patients to the hospital in the most urgent situations to reduce waits for care.

City officials are studying a fully or partially municipally operated ambulance service as one option for improving emergency medical services. The concept was discussed in a January analysis of fire department operations done by the nonprofit Center for Public Safety Management in Washington, D.C.

Since 1996, Springfield code has restricted the transport of patients to hospitals to up to three state-licensed, private organizations. The current three are for-profit America Ambulance and LifeStar Ambulance and nonprofit MedicsFirst.

The Dec. 18 death of a Springfield resident allegedly related to improper treatment by a LifeStar paramedic and an emergency medical technician, has prompted more public discussion of potential improvements in EMS.

The firefighters’ union would like to discuss a potential municipally operated service as part of talks to resolve a complaint filed by the union. The complaint came after the city in December 2021, in consultation with local ambulance providers and hospitals, began to require fire personnel, rather than ambulance employees, to act as chief medical providers in certain circumstances when private ambulances transport patients to hospitals.

The city isn’t paid for medical services performed by its firefighters.

Firefighters, all of whom are either EMTs or paramedics, have ridden in the back of ambulances for years to assist private ambulance paramedics when the need arose.

The city doesn’t believe it needs to bargain over the new requirement, but the union disagrees. The Illinois Labor Relations Board has sided with the union thus far, but Springfield Corporation Counsel James Zerkle said the dispute is “currently on review” with the board.

Firefighters want extra pay and the right to bargain other details associated with the new requirement, such as a startup of a city-operated ambulance service to improve responses.

The study estimated such a service could cost $2 million to $2.8 in startup expenses for ambulances and equipment, and between $3 million and $4.5 million per year in base personnel costs, not including pension liabilities.

Tags: chicagoareafire.com, Springfield Fire Department