Officials Want More Time to Discuss Firefighter's EMS Plan

Pinellas County is pushing cities to decide on a possibly cost-saving proposal from some area firefighters. 

An advisory group for Pinellas County's ambulance services is recommending that county commissioners hire a consultant to look at a proposal to have firefighters transport patients to hospitals.

The proposal, which was created by Palm Harbor Fire Rescue Lt. Scott Sanford and Lealman Fire District Capt. Jim Millican, would change to the way crews respond to medical emergencies in Pinellas County. 

Right now, firefighters arrive at a medical emergency and treat the patient. A separate ambulance then takes the patient to the hospital. 

Sanford and Millican say that under their plan, patients would arrive at the hospital more quickly because firefighters would be able to treat them and also take them to the hospital. They also say their proposal would save taxpayers money.

The deadline for the county to notify the current ambulance service provider whether or not it is going to extend its contract another three years is Jan. 1.

The City of Dunedin said it is asking the county for a one-year extension.

"That's before we can give them our opinion," Mayor Dave Eggers said during a city commission meeting on Nov. 17. "We've had some good dialogue; we're starting to have good dialogue and we just need a little bit more time."

"We're thrilled that the [advisory group] has asked the county to commission an unbiased, outside evaluation of fire-based transport, because we know this is the model saving money and delivering superior EMS service to the vast majority of Floridians. If other counties can save both money and lives, we're sure we can do it here too," said Sanford.

Many other counties in Florida already use this type of firefighter-based transport. (see accompanying map)

Pinellas County does not have a single fire department that takes care of the entire county. There are 18 individual fire districts that serve different-size communities with different needs, which complicates the issue tremendously.

Millican and Sanford have been pitching their plan to Pinellas County's fire districts. So far, nine of the 18 fire districts support further evaluation of the emergency transport plan.

Sen. Jack Latvala, R-Clearwater hosts a public hearing with Pinellas County officials, emergency management staff and the public on Nov. 30 to discuss EMS transport services in Pinellas County (2 to 4:30 p.m. at the Pinellas Park Performing Arts Center, 4951 78th Ave. N. in Pinellas Park).

Eggers recently began discussing the idea of consolidating leadership of the fire departments of the smaller, North Pinellas cities, according to the St. Petersburg Times. He has met twice with the mayors of Oldsmar, Safety Harbor and Tarpon Springs (at Panera Bread and Daddy's Grill) in Oldsmar, the Times reports.

"All of the mayors said that ultimately, they're trying to join forces to save the cities and taxpayers money," it reads. "They're also exploring their common ground, with the realization they have more power as a group than alone."

Tarpon Springs mayor David Archie told the Times that sometimes the smaller cities get "left out" of the "big picture."

A hotline has been set up for citizens to voice their opinion about the firefighter-based transport plan. The number is 727-346-8911.