Fire Department plans major community paramedicine expansion; BLA recommends implementation audit

The San Francisco Fire Department told the Budget and Appropriations Committee on June 24 that it supports a major expansion of community paramedicine programs, including street wellness, opioid response and crisis teams, and pledged to provide implementation reports as the effort rolls out.

Fire leadership said the mayor’s proposed budget includes roughly $4 million in year one and $4.4 million in year two to stand up new street wellness teams, plus roughly $1 million for an opioid response team. The BLA summarized policy recommendations and recommended the Board request an implementation update by Oct. 1 and consider a BLA-led performance audit within a year to evaluate coordination, data sharing and outcomes.

"We are going to continue that ongoing analysis and we'll keep you apprised of all of that," the fire official said, adding that the department will add an assistant deputy chief and a section chief to manage community paramedicine. Vice Chair Safae and other supervisors emphasized the need for clear governance, data collection and community-based partnerships as the teams are stood up.

The committee indicated support for the technical recommendations and asked departments to return with implementation and performance details as the programs launch.