CHARLOTTE — The Charlotte Fire Department has reached an agreement with MEDIC to improve emergency medical services in Mecklenburg County.
The agreement promises to see faster response times, increased staffing of EMTs and paramedics, and expansion of MEDIC’s ambulance fleet. It aims to reduce the fire department’s involvement in low-acuity and first responder-only calls, allowing fire trucks to focus on high-priority emergencies.
“This is a step in the right direction. But more must be done to fix a system that has not kept pace with Charlotte’s growth,” said Charlotte Fire Chief Reginald Johnson.
The Charlotte Fire Department has long advocated for meaningful changes to better serve the rapidly growing city. The new operational framework with MEDIC is structured to support accountability and continuous system evaluation.
MEDIC executive director John Peterson issued a statement on Wednesday, saying in part, “This agreement does not change how MEDIC or Charlotte Fire responds to emergency calls today. Instead, it affirms and supports the work already underway to strengthen the EMS system for the long term.”
It went on to say, “Well before contract discussions began, MEDIC launched focused initiatives to expand ambulance availability, grow our workforce, and reduce unnecessary reliance on fire departments for non-emergent calls. These strategic efforts are ongoing and essential to building a more sustainable and effective EMS response model in today’s environment.”
MEDIC shared a copy of the Memorandum of Understand that was signed by both agencies. It said, “MEDIC and City agree that it is in their mutual interest to have CFD continue to serve as first responder … until a long-term decision is made on the future of Mecklenburg County’s EMS System and as progress is being made towards completion of an EMS System Study to access County’s EMS System.”
In April, county leaders discussed doing a study to look at the current EMS system. The study has not started yet.
The agreement also includes a first responder subsidy. It says MEDIC will pay the city an annual subsidy of $499,035, payable in monthly installments of $41,586.25.
Peterson said, “Importantly, we recognize that all public safety agencies in Mecklenburg County are under pressure. But meaningful, lasting change cannot happen overnight or at the expense of patient safety. Increasing Medic’s call volume without the necessary resources in place would only risk slower response times and compromise outcomes for our patients experiencing life threatening emergencies. Our priority must remain clear: to evolve responsibly, guided by data, and always centered on the needs of our patients.”
The new MOU agreement will start on Thursday and expire on Oct. 10. The agreement automatically renews every 90 days unless a material breach occurs or both parties agree to changes. This structure is intended to maintain continuity of care and support measurable progress in EMS services.
VIDEO: Charlotte Fire officials push back on medical calls as contract with MEDIC nears expiration
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