Indianapolis Mayor Pushes EMS Consolidation

INDIANAPOLIS --

The mayor of Indianapolis is calling for the merger of the city's top two EMS providers in a move he said will save money and create more efficient operations.

The plan is to unify Marion County Emergency Medical Services currently provided by the Indianapolis Fire Department and Wishard Health Services under a new EMS division that will report to the Department of Public Safety, 6News' Renee Jameson reported.

"Over the next several weeks, my team will continue to reach out to the key stakeholders to help us ensure that we've got this right," Mayor Greg Ballard said during a news conference on Thursday.

City leaders said they hope the merger will make up the $1.5 million deficit IFD's EMS service is facing.

"(We would be) looking at training, looking at protocols, doing research to tell us how we do our job better," said Indianapolis Public Safety Director Frank Straub.

The city plans to partner with the Health and Hospital Corp. of Marion County, with Wishard Memorial Hospital serving as the sponsoring hospital.

The Indiana University School of Medicine would also provide medical leadership.

"We hope to improve levels of care and improve data collection and improve overall service back to the city and back to the communities," said Dr. Charlie Miramonti with the IU School of Medicine.

IFD Division Chief Scott Isaacs said some may be wary of the plan at first.

"People choose to go another direction for another reason, and they don't want to see the way they do their jobs and their work environment change," he said.

Ballard said he wants the plan in place by January of next year.

It's not clear if his office can push the plan through on its own, or if it would need the City-County Council's permission.

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