MedStar Mobile Healthcare, or MedStar, is the trade name of the Metropolitan Area EMS Authority. We are the exclusive 9-1-1 provider for the City of Fort Worth and the client cities of Blue Mound, Edgecliff Village, Forest Hill, Haltom City, Haslet, Lakeside, Lake Worth, River Oaks, Sansom Park, Saginaw, Westover Hills, Westworth Village, and White Settlement. We also provide interfacility ground transportation, local non-emergent response, Rodeo Team, and special event EMS for the annual Stock Show and Rodeo, NASCAR/IRL races, and concerts.

What is the size and scope of the MedStar EMS system?

The MedStar service area is a mix of rural and urban response challenges, comprised of over 436 square miles and serving over 1.1 million residents. MedStar operates a fleet of 85 emergency vehicles and responds to 185,000 emergency calls a year. Currently, MedStar employs a diverse work force of 500 team members and we are still growing.

What is EMS?

EMS stands for Emergency Medical Services. EMS provides medical care outside of the hospital or medical office setting. Most often, people call EMS when they have had an accident or are experiencing a medical emergency. Emergencies might include heart attack, difficulty breathing, falls, accidents, drowning, cardiac arrest, stroke, drug overdose, and acute illnesses. EMS services may provide both basic and advanced medical care at the scene of an emergency and en route to a hospital.

What is an EMS system?

EMS is much more than an ambulance service. The delivery of emergency medical care is made up of many parts, together which are called the EMS system. The EMS system includes the call center that receives the call for and dispatches help, those who respond first (such as police officers and firefighters), an ambulance transportation team of EMTs and/or paramedics, physicians and nurses who provide advice via radio or phone, air medical services (helicopters and small airplanes), hospital receiving facilities, and governmental and medical oversight.

How can I get a job in EMS?

MedStar offers training to qualified applicants. The first step you must take to work in EMS is to take courses to become a Basic-level Emergency Medical Technician. This is the minimum level of education that most EMS professionals have before entering the workforce. Two local options for EMS programs are Tarrant County College & Weatherford College. 

How long is EMS training?

EMT training varies from two to six months, depending on the training site and hours of class scheduled per week. Some training programs have class every day for a couple of months for those interested in getting done quickly, while other, longer programs accommodate those students who have family, a full-time job, or other responsibilities that limit their time available for education.

Approximate training requirements are:

An EMT must be proficient in CPR, and training is centered on recognizing and treating life-threatening emergencies outside the hospital environment.

An EMT learns the basics in how to handle cardiac and respiratory arrest, heart attacks, seizures, diabetic emergencies, respiratory problems, and other medical emergencies. He or she also learns how to manage traumatic injuries such as falls, fractures, lacerations, and burns.

An EMT is also introduced into patient assessment, history taking, and vital signs.

What should I do if I am currently certified as an EMT or Paramedic in another state other than Texas?

You will need to be certified by the state of Texas to work at MedStar. You will need to complete the reciprocity process through the state of Texas in order to obtain certification. This process involves multiple steps and can take up to 12 weeks to complete, so it is best to get started immediately. Please visit the Texas Department of State Health Services website at http://www.dshs.state.tx.us/emstraumasystems/stdrecip.shtm for more information on how to begin the process.