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Mission officials say city-run EMS cut response times and improved accountability
Summary
Mayor Nori Gonzalez Garza, the city medical director and fire leaders said Mission’s transition to a fire-based, city-run EMS—funded in part with ARPA grants and supported by a municipal billing contract—reduced response times, boosted equipment and training, and moved the service toward financial sustainability.
Mission Mayor Nori Gonzalez Garza hosted the city’s first podcast to highlight the Mission Fire Department’s transition to a fire-based, city-run emergency medical services (EMS) system and to explain how the change has affected response times, equipment and program finances.
Mayor Nori Gonzalez Garza opened the episode and introduced Dr. Ivan Melendez, Mission’s medical director; Chief Mike Silva; and Deputy Chief Joy ("Joey") Flores. Dr. Melendez said the podcast was intended to improve community understanding of healthcare access and praised the decision to highlight EMS on the inaugural show.
"Quality is our focus, but it's difficult to have quality if there's no revenue," Dr. Melendez said, summing up the program’s dual aims of clinical standards and financial accountability. He told listeners that limited data access under prior private contracts and a single-bid market left the city with little…
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