Fort Worth’s Emergency Medical Services, now operated by the fire department, is showing measurable improvements in speed and efficiency. City officials reported that for the quarter ending June, ambulance calls fell 28%, emergency travel times dropped 23.4%, and non‑emergency travel times fell 24% compared with the first quarter of fiscal year 2024.
Faster response times
Interim fire chief James Horton told the City Council’s public‑safety committee that overall emergency response time is now about two minutes faster, while non‑emergency calls are answered roughly five minutes sooner. The city’s target is to reach 90% of emergency calls within eight minutes. Although the metric slipped to 11:09 minutes late last year, it improved to 8:55 minutes between April and June.
Recruiting and retention challenges
Despite these gains, the department continues to wrestle with staffing shortages. Two recruiting classes in the last fiscal year added 114 EMTs and paramedics, but the attrition rate remains at 20%, with 85 employees leaving the service. Of the 543 EMS positions as of July 1, 507 are filled, leaving 36 vacancies; that number has since risen to about 45.
To address the gap, 33 new EMTs will begin on Oct. 1, and the fire department plans two additional recruiting classes in fiscal 2027. It will also partner with Tarrant County College to launch an in‑house paramedic school in January.
Work‑hour reforms
Council member Elizabeth Beck questioned the size of the upcoming class and the department’s shift schedule. In March, the department moved from a 12‑hour‑shift model (seven shifts over 14 days) to a 24‑hour‑on/48‑hour‑off schedule, averaging 56 hours per week with overtime. Horton said a future shift change to 24‑hours on/72‑hours off would bring the average work week down to 42 hours, aligning with industry norms.
Background
The city launched its in‑house EMS on July 1 last year, transitioning from the MedStar contract after deeming the regional model financially unsustainable. The change was made under an agreement with 14 neighboring municipalities.
City officials remain optimistic that continued recruitment, partnership with local education institutions, and revised shift structures will sustain the recent performance gains while addressing the staffing shortfall.
Original reporting: Fort Worth Report — read the source article.
