Commissioners ask staff to study countywide medical-director coverage for fire districts and EMS

Commissioners instructed county staff to investigate whether the county can provide a single medical-director contract and insurance coverage that would encompass township fire districts, volunteer fire departments and the county EMS.

The discussion followed outreach from township fire districts asking the county to assume oversight and contractual responsibilities for medical direction — the physician oversight required for EMS and some fire operations. County Administrator Mark said each district currently contracts separately for a medical director; a consolidated county contract might achieve economies of scale but would carry costs.

"Any entity that provides emergency services like EMS and the fire districts and fire departments, they're required to have oversight by a medical doctor that's their medical director," Mark said, describing the current arrangement. Staff said they will ask the county EMS director to estimate potential costs and legal implications and to determine whether county policy would allow subsidizing other taxing entities.

Commissioners and several chiefs in the audience discussed liability, how costs are currently distributed, and variable practices among districts. One commissioner said he had met with the local chiefs and urged staff to gather contract copies and cost breakdowns before the board makes a policy decision.

No formal change was adopted. Staff will assemble contract language, insurance implications, and cost estimates and return to the board for further direction during budget deliberations.