Excerpts from pjstar.com:
A long-dormant conflict between Advanced Medical Transport Inc. (AMT) of Central Illinois and the Peoria Fire Department may be reigniting. Years ago, the two parties clashed over who would handle paramedic services and patient transport within the city. AMT eventually struck a deal with the city, agreeing to pay $85,000 annually—adjusted for inflation—for exclusive patient transport rights in Peoria. The agreement was later revised in 2009 to allow the fire department to operate three advanced life support (ALS) engines.
Now, the fire department is seeking a fourth ALS engine for House 19, located on the city’s northwestern edge near the new Louisville Slugger complex and The Shoppes at Grand Prairie. While the cost is only around $5,000, some residents argue that the current level of service is sufficient and question the need for additional resources.
Peoria Fire Chief Charles Lauss and Rick Waldron, president of Peoria Firefighters Union Local 50, have both emphasized that the move is not about replacing AMT. “We have an agreement in place,†Lauss said. “We can’t get into transport without giving AMT five years’ notice. Our goal is to enhance our services and better serve the community.â€
Currently, Peoria firefighters are trained in basic life support, while only three paramedics assigned to ALS engines and AMT provide advanced care. Both the union and the chief believe adding a fourth ALS engine would improve response times and strengthen the partnership with AMT. “It comes down to whether we get there first or AMT does,†Waldron, a firefighter-paramedic, said. “As long as a medic is on scene, that’s what matters most.â€
However, AMT, a non-profit company that has provided ambulance services in the area for decades, disagrees. They argue that having too many paramedics could actually reduce the quality of care. “Doing the best for the community isn’t about doing everything—it’s about doing the right things,†said Andrew Rand, AMT’s executive director.
AMT references two letters from Dr. Matthew Jackson, head of the Peoria Area Emergency Medical Services (PAEMS), highlighting concerns about paramedic saturation. In one letter last year, Dr. Jackson noted that Peoria has approximately 6.4 paramedics per 10,000 residents, significantly higher than other U.S. cities. He warned that increased saturation could lead to worse outcomes in critical situations like cardiac arrest, citing skill degradation due to overuse.
Chief Lauss, however, remains confident in his team. “Our paramedics receive all the required training hours and real-world exposure,†he said. “Many of them also work for other agencies on their days off to maintain their skills.â€
The proposal is currently under review by the PAEMS director, and the City Council is expected to consider it in a future meeting.
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