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Edina approves amendment to mobile ECMO agreement to fund two dedicated positions
Summary
Council approved an amendment to the mobile ECMO services agreement that funds two temporary battalion-chief roles (paid by Fairview Health Services at $339,000 annually) to staff the city's mobile ECMO truck without reducing local ambulance coverage.
The Edina City Council on Feb. 17 approved an amendment to the mobile ECMO (extracorporeal membrane oxygenation) services agreement intended to preserve Edina emergency response capacity while expanding regional ECMO access.
The city’s fire chief briefed council members on the pilot program, saying the original cross-staffing model required Edina to pull ambulances out of regular service and stretched resources. Under the proposed amendment, Fairview Health Services would fund two temporary full-time battalion-chief positions to staff ECMO responses when needed and otherwise perform strategic battalion-chief duties for Edina. The contract amendment was described to council as $339,000 annually and aligned with the vehicle lease that currently runs through August 2027.
"Dedicated staffing was necessary to ensure that the mobile ECMO truck operations don't reduce our Edina response," the fire chief said, describing a shift from a cross-staffed approach to a hub-and-spoke model using the University of Minnesota as a hub for broader coverage. The chief said the move preserves on-street ambulance availability and creates a staffing model that benefits both Edina and regional ECMO capacity.
Member Jackson moved approval of the amendment and a second was recorded; the council voted to approve the amendment. Several council members asked clarifying questions about who pays the $339,000, and the mayor confirmed that the funds come from Fairview to the city to operationalize the two positions rather than as a direct city expense.
The amendment will remain tied to the vehicle lease and includes options to extend or terminate with written notice by either party. Staff characterized the change as a continuation of the pilot with adjustments intended to protect local emergency response capacity while maintaining the program’s regional goals.
