Keller Roanoke Northeast Fort Worth | June 2025

Health care

BY GABBY BAILEY

BY CODY THORN

Learn more about 3 health care updates from local hospitals

Fort Worth City Council prepares for EMS transition in July

During a Fort Worth City Council work session meeting June 3, council members talked to Fire Chief Jim Davis on updates about the transition of emergency medical services from MedStar to the city of Fort Worth’s Fire Department. The transition, which dissolves the interlocal agreement with MedStar and establishes the emergency medical services within city limits, takes place July 1. A closer look Council Member Carlos Flores brought up MedStar using a lot of resources to provide help for homeless people in town. “They are calling 911 and getting an ambulance,” he said. “That was their default health care plan, right? Financially, that’s not sustainable.” Davis claried that the department will look into working with partners like JPS Health Network or nonprots to aid with homeless care. Council Member Elizabeth Beck suggested the Healing

Shepherd Clinic could help those in need, but not necessarily utilize an ambulance. The Healing Shepherd Clinic provides educa- tion, preventative care and medical treatment to homeless individuals in the Fort Worth area, according to its website. Diving deeper Beck asked Davis if the Mobile Integrated Healthcare Program would still be available for residents. The program was started by MedStar in 2009 and patients who enroll receive regularly scheduled home visits from a paramedic. Accord- ing to the MedStar website, the program was created to address a response that did not need an ambulance trip. Davis said there were no changes to the program and it would still be an option. In 2008, 21 patients were transported more than 2,000 times by MedStar, which resulted in nearly $1 million in charges.

What else? According to a city news release, 14 cities have signed on for ambulance services that Fort Worth will provide, with allocation costs being distrib- uted based on use. EMS services will have an $85 million annual budget with anticipated revenues of $65 million.

1 John Peter Smith Hospital JPS Health Network was bestowed the 2025 Gallup Exceptional Workplace Award May 29 for the second year in a row, according to a hospital news release. The award is a global honor given to organizations worldwide that prioritize employee well-being and inclusive environments. According to the release, this award was given only to seven health care organizations across the world, which “reects the culture that drives [JPS’s] mission to improve healthcare services in Tarrant County.”

2 Medical City Alliance The hospital is in the nal planning stages of adding eight beds to the ER unit to bring the total number of beds to 29, Medical City Alliance director of communications Corey Koif said. Construction is expected to begin at the end of the year and be nished in January 2027. Medical City Alliance has 70 acres of undeveloped land that will eventually be used for further expansions at a later date, said Janet St. James, assistant vice president of public relations and media communications for Medical City Healthcare.

3 Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Alliance The Alliance location launched the TeamBirth program in January, which utilizes a decision- making model with planning boards and “huddles” for open dialogue between the care team and patients during and after delivery, Texas Health ocials said. “Every mother deserves to have a safe and memorable birth experience, and we are delighted to be among the rst in the state to implement the program at our facility,” said Clint Abernathy, president of Texas Health Alliance.

“One very positive thing about putting us all together as MedStar in the re department is that we’ll all be

FELIKS GWOZDZ PL.

in the same place, working on the same issues with one direction and leadership.” JIM DAVIS FORT WORTH FIRE CHIEF

GOLDEN TRIANGLE BLVD.

Fort Worth

TEXAS HEALTH TRL.

N. TARRANT PKWY.

N. RIVERSIDE DR.

35W

Fort Worth

W. ALLEN AVE.

1500 S. Main St., Fort Worth www.jpshealthnet.org

3101 N. Tarrant Parkway, Fort Worth www.medicalcityhealthcare.com

10864 Texas Health Trail, Fort Worth www.texashealth.org

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