Kansas City Fire Chief Makes Case for EMS Consolidation

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Feb. 25--Kansas City Fire Chief Smokey Dyer predicted Tuesday that a consolidation of the city's fire and ambulance systems could preserve excellent patient care while saving money.

"We do have a great reputation," Dyer said of the Kansas City Fire Department. "We are one of the strongest managed fire departments in the nation."

Dyer was speaking to a city advisory committee looking at whether the Fire Department should take over running the ambulance service, which is currently provided by a separate agency, Metropolitan Ambulance Services Trust.

He predicted the city could run a more efficient emergency medical service, enhance working conditions and employment opportunities for ambulance crews, and save money by consolidating such functions as personnel, information technology, insurance, finance, fleet and building maintenance and legal services.

Dyer said that at a time when the city is facing an $85 million shortfall, such savings should be important to taxpayers. He also pointed out that many major American cities, including Seattle, Phoenix and Memphis, have fire-based ambulance services.

He acknowledged he could not provide any dollar estimates on savings, and he recommended that any consolidation take place slowly and carefully to ensure minimal disruption to workers and continued delivery of quality medical care.

MAST's management has recommended that the city keep the existing system, which they said was cost-effective and provided excellent service to the public.

MAST employees at the meeting peppered Dyer with questions about how such a consolidation would affect their jobs. Some pointed out that the city and the Fire Department have a policy requiring employees to live in the city, while 60 percent of MAST employees live outside Kansas City.

Dyer predicted most MAST employees would keep their jobs under a consolidation, and he said workforce reductions most likely could occur through attrition. The advisory committee is expected to make recommendations to the City Council by March 12.