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Message
What are the OT's thought on the EMS/BRFD merger?
Posted on 8/14/25 at 1:55 pm
Posted on 8/14/25 at 1:55 pm
12
Posted on 8/14/25 at 1:56 pm to tha real thang
I think they’re gonna need a shorter acronym now.
Posted on 8/14/25 at 1:57 pm to tha real thang
Seems to make sense to me 
Posted on 8/14/25 at 2:03 pm to tha real thang
What’s the point of the merger?
Posted on 8/14/25 at 2:05 pm to upgrayedd
quote:
What’s the point of the merger?
So the city can get it's hands on some money, I believe about $50 mil.
Posted on 8/14/25 at 2:06 pm to upgrayedd
Nobody's really sure but most people think it's to get fire dept expenses out of the general fund and into EMS's special fund. City losing a lot of money due to St. George.
Posted on 8/14/25 at 2:07 pm to upgrayedd
quote:
What’s the point of the merger?
Get rid of the redundancy, hire younger people at lower wages and weed out the deadweight
This post was edited on 8/14/25 at 2:08 pm
Posted on 8/14/25 at 2:09 pm to tha real thang
EMS has always been a well run part of the City. They even generate revenue for services.
Posted on 8/14/25 at 2:10 pm to tha real thang
Could make emergency response more efficient. How often do you see both a fire truck and ambulance at a house after someone called 911 with some health issue? Dispatch could figure out who’s needed and only send one
Posted on 8/14/25 at 2:12 pm to MikeD
quote:
Could make emergency response more efficient. How often do you see both a fire truck and ambulance at a house after someone called 911 with some health issue? Dispatch could figure out who’s needed and only send one
Back when I was in the FD, 99% of the time, we'd get to medical calls LONG before EMS ever showed.
Posted on 8/14/25 at 2:50 pm to Shexter
quote:
Back when I was in the FD, 99% of the time, we'd get to medical calls LONG before EMS ever showed.
When it comes to life or death situations I would rather spend too much money than not enough.
Posted on 8/14/25 at 3:41 pm to tha real thang
It is another attempt at a money grab by the BRFD. Since day one, they have been trying to get their hands on EMS money.
This is not a merger, it is a hostile take over.
BRFD and EMS are two completely different skillsets and training. In EBRP we have a duel response system, BRFD is dispatched with EMS on some calls as there is a lot more Fire Stations than EMS units. They begin treatment and then turnover patient care to EMS, who will treat and transport. A citizen in EBRP is not billed for the treatment and transport. The patients insurance is billed and any revenue collected is considered payment in full. This revenue is what the BRFD has had their eye on for years.
Fire Department and EMS mergers typically result in a huge decrease in clinical treatment standards. The Gold Standard for EMS departments providing quality is a separate free Department of EMS. When EMS was formed 40+ years ago this BRFD|EMS option was extensively studied and ultimately discarded.
This particular merger is especially troublesome as right now all rank in the Fire Department must be Firefighters. This puts firefighters, with very little to no advanced life support skills supervising EMS paramedics. EMS paramedics who want to advance are shut out from promotions by not being trained firefighters. How many Paramedics will come to work for a service where the door for advancement is slammed in their face? Other troublesome issues is how is a Department that operates within the city limits provide care to the parish outside the city limits? A big complaint voiced to the FD Union is medical calls, a huge amount Firefighters do not want to respond to medical calls, this issue comes up again and again during contract negotiation. Is this who you want running your EMS system?
The present Chief very recently admitted is unknown how much or if any money would be saved. There is no plan announced to merge the departments, just we are merging.
the Department of EMS is a nationally recognized EMS Service, winning the #1 EMS Department in the Nation TWICE! This is a huge achievement.
Trixie
This is not a merger, it is a hostile take over.
BRFD and EMS are two completely different skillsets and training. In EBRP we have a duel response system, BRFD is dispatched with EMS on some calls as there is a lot more Fire Stations than EMS units. They begin treatment and then turnover patient care to EMS, who will treat and transport. A citizen in EBRP is not billed for the treatment and transport. The patients insurance is billed and any revenue collected is considered payment in full. This revenue is what the BRFD has had their eye on for years.
Fire Department and EMS mergers typically result in a huge decrease in clinical treatment standards. The Gold Standard for EMS departments providing quality is a separate free Department of EMS. When EMS was formed 40+ years ago this BRFD|EMS option was extensively studied and ultimately discarded.
This particular merger is especially troublesome as right now all rank in the Fire Department must be Firefighters. This puts firefighters, with very little to no advanced life support skills supervising EMS paramedics. EMS paramedics who want to advance are shut out from promotions by not being trained firefighters. How many Paramedics will come to work for a service where the door for advancement is slammed in their face? Other troublesome issues is how is a Department that operates within the city limits provide care to the parish outside the city limits? A big complaint voiced to the FD Union is medical calls, a huge amount Firefighters do not want to respond to medical calls, this issue comes up again and again during contract negotiation. Is this who you want running your EMS system?
The present Chief very recently admitted is unknown how much or if any money would be saved. There is no plan announced to merge the departments, just we are merging.
the Department of EMS is a nationally recognized EMS Service, winning the #1 EMS Department in the Nation TWICE! This is a huge achievement.
Trixie
Posted on 8/14/25 at 3:52 pm to tha real thang
Combination of a Mayor who is REALLY trying to do good…But does not understand the impact it will have. This is regression for the citizens of EBRP…Full Stop…No matter how you slice it. You USED to get (2) Paramedics per unit…Now you got 1 and a lower level medic. You’ll end up back to BLS units, private ambulance services and much more! No dig on FD, they are top notch. EMS is a whole other animal. Different personality types. Fireman don’t want to treat people typically…Medics don’t want to be fireman…It’s tough enough to keep up with progressive training and CE hours just to stay on top your game. First rule here is…If they say something is not going to happen, and emphasize it…You can bet money on it!
Posted on 8/14/25 at 3:53 pm to tha real thang
Sneaky lil rascal!
Posted on 8/14/25 at 3:55 pm to tha real thang
EMS is gonna get fricked.
Anything like that is about power. Now a fire chief is gonna have control of EMS.
If i were in supervisory spots, i would be so against that because now an administration who has no idea who you are has control over any further promotions.
Any of these type things never actually fully benefit the workers. It benefits administration and the city
Anything like that is about power. Now a fire chief is gonna have control of EMS.
If i were in supervisory spots, i would be so against that because now an administration who has no idea who you are has control over any further promotions.
Any of these type things never actually fully benefit the workers. It benefits administration and the city
Posted on 8/14/25 at 3:56 pm to Fat and Happy
Think Fire commissioner…Over ALL Parish Departments…Be my guess
Posted on 8/14/25 at 3:57 pm to Fat and Happy
Seems like the current EMS administration is selling them out from what I've heard.
Posted on 8/14/25 at 3:59 pm to OptionRight
It is a terrible idea. BRFD wants $$$$ Care will decrease, try hiring paramedics in this fricked up city as it is now, if they merge the change of BR to Detroit will accelerate.
Posted on 8/14/25 at 4:01 pm to trixie
A tax funded organization will never save money. This is a money grab by the FD. Seems Coach is getting out politicked due to his inexperience in dealing with mafia's .
Posted on 8/14/25 at 4:07 pm to LSUWoodworker
They say it’s not a money grab…But that aside…
It is STILL…A horrid idea…Standard of care will indeed suffer. EMS is the only self sufficient money making department in City Government. It’s a lean mean fiscal machine…
Convince me why this department needs “streamlining”? Let me grab some coffee and listen
It is STILL…A horrid idea…Standard of care will indeed suffer. EMS is the only self sufficient money making department in City Government. It’s a lean mean fiscal machine…
Convince me why this department needs “streamlining”? Let me grab some coffee and listen
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