Marion unveils EMS system study, recommends protocol alignment, dispatch upgrades and data sharing

Consultants from Public Consulting Group presented the results of an emergency medical services system study to the Marion City Council on April 15, recommending countywide EMS protocol updates, expanded emergency medical dispatch capability, dispatch consolidation exploration, standardization of data systems and greater interagency training.

The study, led by Ken Riddle and Steve Noble of Public Consulting Group, summarized findings from stakeholder interviews, on-site visits and a community survey of 793 respondents. The consultants said the project identified opportunities to align the city's 28E agreement for ambulance transport, clarify response-zone designations and reduce weak points created by multiple public safety answering points (PSAPs).

City staff and the consultants told council the report's administrative recommendations call for countywide protocol updates to improve consistency and patient outcomes when patients transfer between agencies. The consultants also recommended adopting emergency medical dispatch (EMD) — a structured 911 call triage system — so dispatchers can better define acuity and right-size responses, and urged study of dispatch consolidation to reduce call transfers among four dispatch centers in the region.

Operational recommendations included integrating ambulance crews into incident command, expanding interagency EMS training and standardizing data systems to support analytics and accountability. Consultants said response-zone designation work is already underway within Marion Fire Department’s standards-of-coverage and community-risk assessment.

Chief Fagan and council members emphasized that some steps are already in progress: a protocol-alignment effort with Area Ambulance, an MOU to pilot on-scene medication exchange with Air Ambulance to avoid service disruptions, and an upcoming meeting with Air Ambulance administration scheduled for May 12. Area Ambulance leadership told council their own study is near completion and that they plan a full review of the 2005 28E agreement that governs regional ambulance transport.

Council members asked which recommendations have the greatest urgency. Chief Fagan said the most immediate, high-priority steps are protocol alignment and operational changes that can be implemented without multi-jurisdictional agreements. Longer-term, strategic items — such as dispatch consolidation, unified data systems and regional governance changes — will require additional coordination and time.

The presenters and staff recommended next steps: combine findings with Area Ambulance's soon-to-be-complete study, create workgroups with mutual-aid partners and internal staff to vet recommendations, and return to council with specific proposals and cost estimates. No formal council action or vote was taken at this meeting; the item was a presentation and discussion.

Councilmembers praised the stakeholder engagement and the breadth of the report, and asked staff to return with prioritized, implementable steps and cost estimates for the council’s further consideration.