Orlando May Have Paramedics Transport Patients

The way the city of Orlando transports injured and sick patients may be about to change, and it could help the city make money.

The Orlando City Council could vote Monday to have its own paramedics transport patients to the hospital, instead of Rural Metro.

Right now the paramedics only stabilize patients and then turn them over to the private company. The city wants to change that on a trial basis, and would charge fees for transport.

"The city can make money and then use it to pay for things like more police," Orlando City Commissioner Phil Diamond said.

The city has not put a price tag on the new service, so they're not sure how much revenue it would generate.

If the vote passes Orlando could take over the service by February.