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EMSA will keep Ambulance Service

By KWGS News

Tulsa, OK – After reviewing proposals and meeting with area mayors, Mayor Dewey F. Bartlett Jr. announced today that EMSA will continue to provide emergency medical response in the city of Tulsa.

Every five years, the Mayor has the opportunity to determine if it is in the best interest of the citizens to change the relationship regarding emergency response from EMSA to another entity, in this case, the Tulsa Fire Department. Mayor Bartlett received proposals from EMSA to continue the service, and from TFD, which proposed an alternative to the current system allowing TFD to help in the transportation of patients by ambulance in addition to first response they provide now.

"After consultation with all parties concerned, including the Mayors and/or City Managers of Jenks, Bixby, Sand Springs, and Oklahoma City, I have decided that our current system has performed extremely well and I do not support a change at this time," Mayor Bartlett said. "I would like to see EMSA and TFD sit down together in the future and work on the many aspects of ways to improve our emergency medical services."

Citywide support was another factor for keeping emergency medical service with EMSA. Over four years, the public consistently has opted in for the EMSA monthly fee and the citizen's survey showed an 81 percent satisfaction in all nine districts of EMSA's response time and medical assistance.

"The ability of EMSA and TFD to find solutions quickly in times of emergency underscored to me the high caliber of personnel that we are fortunate to employ. I am extremely proud of the relationship between EMSA and our Tulsa Fire Department."

EMSA provides service for not only Tulsa, but for Jenks, Bixby and Sand Springs.