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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 07291986 - 2.9 THE BOARD OF -SUPERVISORS -OF CONTRA COSTA -COUNTY, CALIFORNIA Adopted this Order on July 29 , 1986 , by the following vote: AYES: Supervisors Fanden, Schroder, McPeak, Torlakson, Powers NOES: None ABSENT: None ABSTAIN: None SUBJECT: Proposed Pilot Communication System and Ballot Measure, Emergency Medical Services The Board received a report dated July 15 , 1986 from Greg Rhodes, M.D. , Chairperson, Emergency Medical Care Committee, transmitting recommendations relative to a pilot program using cellular telephones in an effort to upgrade the existing medical communications system and the placement of an advisory measure on the November ballot to determine support for a County-wide Emergency Medical Services Assessment District (copy , attached hereto and by referenced incorporated herein) . Mark Finucane, Health Services Director, expressed his support of the recommendations contained in the report from the Emergency Medical Care Committee. He stressed the importance of continuing to upgrade the Emergency Medical Services but stated that in light of the current measures already scheduled for the November ballot, the issue should be deferred for future consideration by the Board. Art Lathrop, Director, Emergency Medical Services, noted that although the establishment of the Regional Trauma Center at John Muir Hospital was a major advance in the level of emergency care in Contra Costa County, major deficiencies still remain which limit Emergency Medical Services' ability to respond to emergencies. He commented on the deficiencies of the communication system currently in use in the County and the inadequate number of paramedic-staffed ambulances available County-wide. Mr. Lathrop expressed his support of the recommendations of the Emergency Medical Care Committee. Phil Batchelor, County Administrator, referred to the large number of earthquakes throughout California in recent weeks, and stressed the importance of having an adequate communications system in Contra Costa County. He requested that the recommendations of the Emergency Medical Care Committee be referred to his office for a detailed review. Supervisor Nancy Fanden expressed her support of the recommendations of the Emergency Medical Care Committee and expressed the hope that the advisory measure could be placed on the June 1987 ballot. Supervisor Robert Schroder commented on the need for further information relative to the current level and locations of paramedic staffing and the requirements County-wide. Supervisor Sunne McPeak stressed the importance of an ade- quate Emergency Medical Service system, and commented on the benefits that will be derived from an improved infrastructure system by allowing emergency vehicles to move through the system more freely. She agreed that further information on current status and future requirements was needed prior to placement of an advisory measure on the ballot. 1 Supervisor Tom Torlakson agreed with the need for further information, and requested a review of the feasibility of setting higher standards for RFP 's for ambulance services. After further discussion by Board members, IT IS BY THE BOARD ORDERED that the issue of funding of ' a pilot communications system and the placement of an advisory measure on the ballot to establish an Emergency Medical Services Assessment District is REFERRED to the County Administrator, Health Services Director and Blue Ribbon Committee on Financing County Services, to report to the Board by December 1986 with additional information and details for possible placement on the ballot in June 1987 . cc: County Administrator Health Services Director Emergency Medical Services I hereby certify that this is a true and correct copy of an'actlon taken and entered or, the minutes of the Board of Supervisors on the date shown. ATTESTED: a39 /986 PHIL 9A' HEL f3, Clea of the Board of Supervisors and County Administrator By K�-,c[� v/ , Deputy 2 EMERGENCY MEDICAL CARE COMMITTEE .®(.49 OF CONTRA COSTA COUNTY EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES 2500 Alhambra Avenue Martinez, CA 94553 (415) 372-4690 July 15, 1986 Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors 651 Pine Street Martinez, CA 94553 Dear Board Members: The Emergency Medical Care Committee has adopted the following recommendations for consideration by your Board: 1. That funding of up to $25,000 be approved to enable the Health Services Department to undertake a pilot study of the use of cellular telephones for paramedic-to-hospital communications. 2. That an advisory measure be placed on the ballot for the November 1986 general elections to determine support for establishing an Emergency Medical Services assessment district to provide county-wide paramedic services and advanced trauma care. Assessments would be limited to no more than $10.00 per year for a single family residence and would be used to establish paramedic services county-wide, provide medical training and equipment to fire fighters who are first responders to medical emergencies, establish an efficient county-wide paramedic dispatch and communications system and to ensure a high level of trauma care for victims of serious accidents within the County. Pilot Cellular Telephone Study A major deficiency in the existing medical communication system, as identified in the County's 1985 EMS System Plan, is the limitation of only one radio channel available for ambulance-to-ho'spital communication. This radio system was designed prior to the advent of advanced life support and was intended for use by EMT-I staffed ambulances units to notify hospitals when en route with a patient. This single-channel system is now used by paramedic units providing emergency care in the' field to receive Base Hospital medical direction. The system is inadequate to handle the existing volume of paramedic radio traffic and, due to FCC regulations governing the use of frequencies in the 'T-band' , paramedics may not transmit telemetry on this frequency as required by State paramedic regulations. Recognizing these problems, the EMS staff have explored the installation of a 10-channel MEDCOM radio system such as is used .in many areas for paramedic- to-hospital communications. Such a system would cost about $1 million to install . While Office of Traffic Safety funding is available to cover 25 percent of the cost for equipment and installation, the County would have to fund the remaining 75 percent plus operational costs. Based upon limited experimentation with two units, we believe that cellular telephones may offer a far less expensive and more flexible alternative to a MEDCOM system. However, before making a commitment to a system which has not been widely used for paramedic communication, we believe that a formal pilot project should be undertaken. The purpose of the project would be to evaluate the effectiveness and cost of cellulae telephones as well as to evaluate specific equipment configuration for use by paramedics. An important side benefit of the pilot project would be to provide some immediate relief to the congestion of the existing radio channel . Benefit Assessment District The Emergency Medical Care Committee has carefully reviewed EMS funding needs and potential resources. In order to meet the basic needs established in the EMS System Plan with respect to system organization and management, manpower and training, communications, transportation, assessment of hospitals and critical care centers, data collection and evaluation, public information and education, and disaster medical response, the EMCC believes that a special tax base for EMS must be established. A special EMS tax was previously considered in 1982, but dropped due to a perceived lack of support and to await completion of an EMS System Plan. The EMS System Plan was completed in June 1985. Since that time, the Health Services Department has also completed and implemented a Trauma System Plan for the County. In the absence, however, of adequate paramedic coverage, adequate first responder training, and adequate paramedic communications, the trauma system cannot function at an optimal level . Moreover, by placing greater demands on existing system resources, the implementation of the trauma system could actually result in some deterioration in the system's ability to respond appropriately to nontraumatic medical emergencies such as heart attacks. In November 1982, the voters of Alameda County were given the opportunity to vote on an advisory measure to establish a County-wide benefit assessment -district with assessments of up to $10.00 per household for paramedic services. The measure carried by a 79 percent majority, and the Alameda County EMS District became operational on July 1, 1984. While we are aware of the process currently under way by the County to review various funding priorities in consideration of special tax measures which may be placed on the June 1987 ballot, we believe that EMS funding is of sufficient urgency., that voters should be given an opportunity to express their support on an advisory measure this November. I would be happy to speak to your Board on behalf of the EMCC on this matter. Thank you for your consideration of these recommendations. Sincerely, ..l� /14j GregR odes, M.D. Chairperson cc: Phil' 6acheior Mark Finucane William Walker, M.D. Art Lathrop