Firefighters union again asks to run KC’s ambulance service

[CBEMT]

For the third time in 10 years, Kansas City’s firefighters union wants to take over the city’s ambulance service.

And it’s likely again to be a contentious debate.

Firefighters contend it’s the most cost-effective trend all across the country, while ambulance officials argue it could jeopardize one of the nation’s best emergency medical response services.

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[CTXMEDIC]

Sounds like the fire kids need a reason for 'being'.

[FormerEMSLT297]

If i were in that service I would fight thie tooth and nail...... nothing good ever comes from a firemonkey takeover of EMS. NOTHING NAADA, ZIP ZILCH.

[spenac]

Holy crap. When will the madness end. We should make a rally of EMS and go and support keeping EMS seperate there. But since no one is that motivated at least go submit a comment in support of EMS staying seperate.

[Ridryder 911]

This is pretty ballsy since they cannot even keep up their own education for EMS and contract it out to another Fire Dept. Central Jackson Fire District handles most of their Paramedic education.. (thank goodness, from what I understand).

R/r 911

[p3medic]

I believe I have said this before, but saying it again seems like a good idea. ANY NON-FIRE BASED EMS PROVIDER PAYING DUES TO THE IAFF ARE PAYING YOUR WAY OUT OF A JOB!!!!!

[aussiephil]

Just another example of fire trying to justify their overfunded & underworked positions.

Tell them to stay with what they are paid for, fighting fires, is they cant justify permanent positions, then make them go volly.

HANDS OFF EMS.

[spenac]

Any updates?

[Diazepam618]

I don't get the anti fire take over here. I work as a Firefighter/paramedic and don't see what the big deal is.

[WolfmanHarris]

Please use the search function to find one of the many threads on this. I would suggest the one on Pheonix FD's in house EMT-P program.

The upshot though is Paramedicine is a health care profession that is becoming more and more specialized and complex. It is not something that can be done effectively as part of a larger job description. Especially when the motives are related more to maintaining call volume rather than patient care. The issue is not with the individual providers, but the Fire Service system they operate under thay views EMS as the golden goose for maintaining jobs and budgets.