HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 08081995 - SD5 57 0 " 5
Contra
r
TO: BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
Costa
County
FROM: PHIL BATCHELOR
P
Osrq COUC1'� L
County Administrator
DATE: August 8, 1995
SUBJECT: PILOT PARAMEDIC FIRE ENGINE PROGRAM AND EXTENSION OF
PARAMEDIC CONTRACTS
Specific Request(s) or Recommendation(s) & Background & Justification
RECOMMENDATIONS :
1 . Authorize the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District and the
Health Services Department, in conjunction with the County
Administrator' s Office to explore the feasibility of establishing a
pilot fire engine-based paramedic program with .funding offset by
shifting Measure H funds .
2 . Authorize the Health Services Department to negotiate an extension and
modification of terms of the emergency ambulance services contract with
American Medical Response for the duration of the pilot project not to
exceed 18 months .
3 . Authorize the Health Services Department to negotiate an extension of
the emergency ambulance agreement with San Ramon Valley Fire to coincide
with the term of the American Medical Response agreement.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There would not be a fiscal impact on the County General Fund or the Fire
District because the costs of the pilot program will be offset by shifting
Measure H funds from the existing ambulance subsidy.
REASONS FOR RECOMMENDATION/BACKGROUND:
On October 25, 1994, , the Board of Supervisors reaffirmed its intent to
implement a paramedic program in the County and authorized the Contra Costa
County Fire Chief to continue the development of plans for the implementation
of paramedic services within the existing area of the Contra Costa County
Fire Protection District.
Continued on Attachment: X YES Signature: '
Recommendation of County Administrator
Recommendation of Board Committee
Approve Other
Signature(s) :
Action of Board on: August 8, 1995 Approved as Recommended X Other X
See attached Addendum for additional Board actions.
Vo te' of Supervisors ; I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS IS A TRUE
AND CORRECT COPY OF AN ACTION TAKEN
X Unanimous (Absent -------- ) AND ENTERED ON THE MINUTES OF THE
Ayes : Noes : ) BOARD OF SUPERVISORS ON DATE SHOWN.
Contact: Terry McGraw (646-4855) Attested: August 8. 1995
cc: Health Services - EMS Phil Satchel , Clerk of
Contra Costa County Fire the rd Supervisors
Protection District nd Co Ad i trator
American Medical Response, Inc.
San Ramon Valley Fire 29 , TY
Protection District
Pilot Paramedic Fire Engine Program
Page 2
August 8, 1995
On April 25, 1995, the Board of Supervisors authorized the Contra Costa
County Fire Protection District to consider commencing a study of the
Advanced Life Support system within the Fire District including an evaluation
of an engine-based paramedic program.
Paramedic ambulance services are provided by American Medical Response, Inc.
(AMR) , San Ramon Valley Fire, and Moraga Fire under contracts administered by
the Health Services Department Emergency Medical Services Agency. Contracts
with AMR and with San Ramon Valley Fire were competitively bid as required by
the Health & Safety Code. (Moraga fire, as a fire district providing
paramedic ambulance service prior to 1980, is exempt from the competitive bid
requirement. )
Approval of these recommendations will enable Contra Costa County Fire and
the Health Services Department Emergency Medical Services Agency to work with
AMR to determine the feasibility of establishing a pilot fire engine-based
paramedic program. The program, if feasible, would be funded by shifting
Measure H ambulance subsidy funds from the private ambulance provider.
The proposal is based on the concept that . the provision of paramedic
emergency response by the Fire District will enable AMR to reduce operating
costs by reducing response requirements . The savings would allow Measure H
funds to be shifted to the Fire District to cover increased costs resulting
from the pilot program.
AMR has expressed an interest in working with Emergency Medical Services and
the Fire District in determining the feasibility of establishing an engine-
based paramedic service.
The proposal would result in an improved medical emergency response service
level since the Fire District is usually the first responder to arrive at the
scene of an accident. AMR would still respond and would continue to be
responsible for transportation as required.
On March 29 , 1994, the Board of Supervisors authorized the Health Services
Department to negotiate extensions to the emergency ambulance service
agreements to allow time for completion of a new EMS System Plan and for
review by Contra Costa Fire of its role as an EMS provider. The contracts
were extended to January 1996 . The EMS System Plan has now been completed
and is scheduled for final review by the Emergency Medical Care Committee at
its September meeting before submission to the Board of Supervisors and to
the State Emergency Medical Services Agency.
In view of the interest of the Board of Supervisors, the Fire District and
AMR in exploring an engine-based paramedic service, it will be necessary to
extend the existing contracts with AMR to allow time to determine the
feasibility of the proposed fire district paramedic service. An extension of
the San Ramon Valley Fire ambulance contract is desirable to keep the two
emergency ambulance contracts on the same timetable. The Moraga Fire
ambulance contract continues in force automatically.
i
SD.5
ADDENDUM
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The Board of Supervisors considered approval of exploration of a pilot fire engine-
based paramedic program by the Health Services Department and the Contra Costa
County Fire Protection District and considered extension of the term of the
emergency ambulance contracts with American Medical Response and the San
Ramon Valley Fire Protection District.
The following people gave testimony to the Board of Supervisors on this matter:
William Bower, SEIU Local 250, Stockton, CA
Russell Greenlaw, CCC Firefighters Local 1230, Martinez, CA
Supervisor Smith moved to approve staff's recommendations with the following
two additions:
1 ) To include SEIU Local 250 and other represented groups that have been
involved with the Pilot Paramedic Fire Engine Program;
2) To request input and involvement from the Contra Costa County EMS
Committee.
Supervisor Torlakson seconded the motion.
IT IS BY THE BOARD ORDERED that recommendations 1 , 2, and 3 are APPROVED.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED BY THE BOARD that additions 1 and 2 as moved by
Supervisor Smith are APPROVED.
I hereby certify that this Is a true and correctcopy Of
an action taken and ntered on the rnlnutes of the
Board of Supeni the date eh 9
ATTESTEM
T , t0 Cierk of the Boar
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cc: County Administrator
Health Services - EMS
- Contra Costa County Firefighters Local 1230 (via HS)
- SEIU Local 250 (via HS)
- American Medical Response (via HS)
Contra Costa County Fire Protection District
San Ramon Valley Fire Protection District