Carla Clark | For The Republic Design inside the addition designed by James Paris his partner the late Nolan Bingham of Paris/Bingham Partnership for the Columbus Fire Department, Central Fire Station 1, 1101 Jackson Street, Columbus, Indiana.
Columbus Board of Public Works and Safety members consented to an agreement with an out-of-town provider to perform annual physicals for Columbus Fire Department firefighters.
Board members on Tuesday approved a service agreement with Ascension St. Vincent Public Safety Medical (PSM) to do bloodwork and physical exams for 95 employees. The agreement — which costs $43,792 — is effective through Dec. 31, 2026.
Mike Kutsko, deputy chief of administration, said the department follows a National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 1582 standard that provides best practices regarding occupational medical programs for firefighters.
Kutsko said that ever since he’s been in charge of administration for the fire department, firefighters have had physicals done through PSM, which provides testing for first responders and is the largest practice of its kind in the country.
“Public Safety Medical was one of the initial advisers to this national standard,” Kutsko said. “The president and CEO Dr. Steven Moffatt was highly sought after throughout the country for his advice on public safety wellbeing.”
PSM merged with Ascension St. Vincent in 2018.
The contract lists that blood draws are set for January 2026 at CFD Stations 1 and 2 with physical exams in February 2026 at the department’s Evolution Training Center at 2670 Verhulst St.
Kutsko told board members that he initially had hoped to develop an agreement with CRH to provide the annual physicals but “when they (CRH) sort of lost their athletic program, that took away some of the stuff that we actually needed.”
CRH in June announced plans to end its sports medicine program and close an affiliated practice at NexusPark, citing a range of external pressures on the hospital system.
Going forward, Kutsko said that he is planning on getting a multi-year contract with Ascension St. Vincent PSM to lock in a lower price.
