Published on February 25, 2025
On Tuesday, Fort Worth City Council adopted a revised Emergency Medical Services (EMS) ordinance effective July 1, designating itself as the licensed EMS provider for participating member cities. This change aims to centralize EMS operations across multiple jurisdictions, improving service delivery and efficiency.
Why it matters: The City Council recommends executing Interlocal Agreements with local jurisdictions to formalize Fort Worth’s role as the EMS provider.
- The ordinance will replace the existing one, and the agreements detail service expectations and funding strategies based on unit hour cost allocations.
- A chief medical officer will oversee clinical operations, ensuring high-quality patient care.
What they’re saying: “This is just another step in getting the City closer to a full transition of our emergency services,” said Valerie Washington, assistant city manager. “Working with the member cities was pivotal and we were able to establish relationships with each and every one of them. Building on these relationships and ensuring a reliable EMS system was an essential part in making this transition possible.”
The big picture: In December 2024, a Memorandum of Understanding and Agreement (MOU) was executed by all member cities to withdraw from and terminate the existing agreement and designate the City as the licensed EMS provider through the Fort Worth Fire Department (FWFD).
What’s next: The EMS Interlocal Agreements will govern the relationship between the City of Fort Worth and each member city, authorizing the City to serve as the licensed EMS provider. In addition to serving as the licensed provider for each city, the EMS Interlocal Agreement requires each city to set performance standards under protocols established by the medical director. Executed interlocal agreements include the following cities:
- Blue Mound
- Edgecliff Village
- Forest Hill
- Haltom City
- Haslet
- Lake Worth
- Lakeside
- Richland Hills
- River Oaks
- Saginaw
- Sansom Park
- Westover Hills
- Westworth Village
- White Settlement
The term of each agreement is for 10 years beginning July 1 and will renew automatically for subsequent 10-year terms unless terminated earlier under the EMS Interlocal Agreement. Edgecliff Village has requested an initial term of five years, with successive five-year renewal terms.
Go deeper: MedStar is dissolving and the City will be responsible through the FWFD to provide emergency ambulance services to multiple cities in Tarrant County. The agreement outlined will create a civil service structure for EMS operational positions, including telecommunicators.
The decision to bring ambulance services into FWFD comes after years of discussions about strengthening Fort Worth’s EMS system as leaders sought a more unified approach to emergency response. This will ensure that EMS for residents and visitors is financially sustainable, responsive, timely and focused on high-quality patient care.
