HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 12051995 - SD6 TO: BOARD OF SUPERVISORS •:', Contra
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FROM: Phil Batchelor COUP-itj/
County Administrator �o - •�~
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DATE: December 5, 1995
SUBJECT: Pilot Paramedic Fire Engine-Based Program and Extension of Paramedic
Contracts
SPECIFIC REQUEST(S) OR RECOMMENDATION(S) & BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION
RECOMMENDATION(S):
1. AUTHORIZE the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District to implement a pilot fire engine-
based paramedic program.
2. AUTHORIZE the Health Services Department to negotiate an extension and modification of
terms of the emergency ambulance services contract with American Medical Response West
for the duration of the pilot project not to exceed 18 months.
3. DIRECT the Health Services Department; in conjunction with the Contra Costa County Fire
District and the County Administrator's Office, to jointly evaluate the pilot project during the
course of the program.
FISCAL IMPACT
There will not be a fiscal impact on the County General Fund because the costs of the pilot program
will be covered by Measure H funds allocated to the Fire District as reimbursement for the cost of
medical supplies expended by the District for emergency medical responses.
CONTINUED ON ATTACHMENT: _YES SIGNATURE: �c /tPir�y� GLcL-rt�.�
RECOMMENDATION OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR—RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE
APPROVE OTHER
SIGNATURE(S):
ACTION OF BOARD ON IA-05-1117S- APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED OTHER
VOTE OF SUPERVISORS
1 HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS IS A
_UNANIMOUS(ABSENT 1 TRUE AND CORRECT COPY OF AN
AYES: NOES: ACTION TAKEN AND ENTERED
ABSENT: ABSTAIN: ON MINUTES OF THE BOARD OF
SUPERVISORS ON THE DATE SHOWN.
Contact: Terry McGraw,646855
ATTESTED SJ
PHIL BATCHELOR,CLERK13F
THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
AND COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR
cc: Health Services-EMS
CCC Fire Protection District
American Medical Response West,Inc. BY EPUTY
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Loca1250 617
BACKGROUND/REASON($)f RECOMMENDATION(S):
On August 8, 1995, the Board of Supervisors authorized the Contra Costa Fire Protection District, the
Health Services Department and the County Administrator's Office to explore the feasibility of
establishing a pilot fire engine-based paramedic program.
Subsequent to the August Board meeting, the County Administrator's Office established a committee
comprised of Supervisor Jeff Smith and representatives of the Contra Costa County Fire Protection
District; the Emergency Medical Services Agency/Health Services Department; American Medical
Response West; the Firefighters' Union, Local 1230; the Emergency Medical Care Committee; the
Paramedics Union, Local 250; the Alameda-Contra Costa Medical Association and the County
Administrator's Office.
The committee has developed a plan for the implementation of a pilot engine-based paramedic program
that will provide one firefighter-paramedic at each of two Walnut Creek fire stations: Engine (station) 1
at 1330 Civic Drive and Engine (station) 3 at 2273 Whyte Park Avenue.
American Medical Response West (AMRW) will modify staffing on the ambulance located on Alpine
Road in South Walnut Creek from the standard two paramedics to one paramedic and one EMT-1.
The paramedic freed up by the South Walnut Creek staffing modification will be assigned to a Lafayette
fire station to function as a single paramedic response unit providing non-transport coverage to a six fire
station area in Orinda and Lafayette.
In addition to the anticipated benefits of providing improved paramedic response times to the high call
volume areas served by Engine 1 and Engine 3, the plan will enable the evaluation of the efficacy of less
costly staffing on an AMRW ambulance and the effectiveness of a single paramedic response unit
operating in conjunction with, and supported by, firefighter-EMTs.
As discussed in the August report to the Board, it is necessary to negotiate an extension and
modifications of the emergency ambulance services contract with AMRW for the duration of the pilot
program, not to exceed 18 months.
Evaluation of the pilot paramedic program will be conducted jointly on an ongoing basis by the Health
Services Department, the Fire District and the County Administrator's Office to determine the
effectiveness of the project from the standpoint of improved response times and more efficient use of
emergency medical response resources.
During the period of the pilot program, the Fire District, Emergency Medical Services and AMRW will
explore methods of providing ongoing funding and paramedic training for firefighters to enable the
continuation of the program upon the successful completion of the pilot program.
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