HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 11031998 - D5 D-6
TO: BOARD OF SUPERVISORS t'`'".' COCltl'a
k t p F
FROM: Phil Batchelor, County Administrator - Costa
November 3, 1998
County
DATE:
STATUS REPORT ON PROPOSED INTEGRATION OF CON COSTA
SUBJECT: COUNTY FIREPROTECTION DISTRICT (CCCFPD) PARAMEDIC PROGRAM,
AND AMERICAN MEDICAL RESPONSE (AMR) PARAMEDIC SERVICES -
tCONTiINUED FROM SEPTEMBER 22, 1`998)
SPECIFIC REOUEST(S)OR RECOMMENDATION(S)&BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION
RECOMMENDATION:
CONSIDER status report from Supervisor Donna Gerber on the proposed integration of
Contra Costa County Fire Protection District(CCCFPD)Paramedic Program and American
Medical Response (AMR) Paramedic Services - (continued from September 22, 1998).
REASONS FOR RECO?MMENDATIONIBACKGROUND:
Supervisor Gerber has advised that she met with representatives of the Professional Fire
Fighters Union Local 1230 and the Paramedics Union Local 250 to discuss the proposed
integration of paramedic response services as outlined in the attached reports dated
October 13, 1998 and September 22, 1998.
The October report was not considered by the Board on the 13th because it was removed
from the agenda to allow time for interested parties to pursue further refinements to the
proposal
As a result of the meeting with Supervisor Gerber, the two labor organizations have
apparently reached agreement regarding the operational and service aspects of the
proposal. The agreement is conditional upon a revision to one of the plan elements
specified in the background of the September 22, 1998 report to the Beard. This change
would be part of an amendment to the contract with AMR that would reduce AMR's
response time in Central County.
CONTINUED ON ATTACHMENT: YES SIGNATURE: s y` �w,C�✓ G w✓
RECOMMENDATION OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE
APPROVE OTHER
SIGNATURE(S):
ACTION OF BOARD ON N Oy e mb e i 3, 19 9 S APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED XX OTHERXX
VOTE OF SUPERVISORS
I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS IS A TRUE
UNANIMOUS(ABSENT ) AND CORRECT COPY OF AN ACTION TAKEN
AYES: T=,TTL CIT & T NOES: V AND ENTERED ON THE MINUTES OF THE BOARD
ASSENT: ABSTAIN: OF SUPERVISORS ON THE DATE SHOWN.
ATTESTED_ M-Ammber 3,9998
Contact: Scott Tandy (925) 335-1087 PHIL BATCHELOR,CLERK OF THE BOARD OF
cc: See Page 2 SUPERVISORS d COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR
Z
BY' ,DEPUTY
...............................................................
......................................................
.....................
it is now proposed that Item E on page two of the September report be revised to read as
follows:
The County would modify the existing AMR ambulance response standard.
The existing standard calls for a 10-minute response to 95 percent of
emergency calls throughout AMR's service area. The new standard would
maintain the 10-minute 95 percent standard in East and West County, but
set a 10-minute 90 percent standard,with no exemptions,forCentral County.
(Underlining indicates modification.)
The proposed change is acceptable to the Fire District,the County EMS Agency and AMR.
cc: Report only:
County Administrator
Contra Costa County Fire Protection District
Contra Costa County Fire Advisory Commission
Contra Costa County Taxpayers' Association
County Grand Jury
Local 1230
Loca1250
American Medical Response
Health Services Department
City of Clayton
City of Concord
City of Lafayette
City of Martinez
City of Pleasant Hill
City of Walnut Creek
Phone for referenced background reports, if needed.
-2-
ADDENDUM TO HIEM D.5
November 3, 1998 Agenda
On September 22, 1998, the Board continued to this date a status report on the feasibility of
integrating fire paramedics and private ambulance services into a single system in the County.
Supervisor Donna Gerber presented the status report, and noted that there was a suggested
modification to the response standard for service with regard to the existing American
Medical Response Paramedic Services (AMR).
Scott Tandy, Chief Assistant County Administrator; Art Lathrop, Emergency Medical Services
Director; Contra Costa Fire Chief Keith Richter; Fire Chief of Emergency Medical Services
Stephen Maiero; Dr. Barger, Emergency Physician at the Contra. Costa Regional Medical
Center; and Dr. William Walker, Director of Health Services were present.
A slide presentation was given by the Fire Chiefs in support of the proposed service.
The Board discussed the issues involved.
Supervisor Canciamilla stated that he could not see how integration would occur, or how the
paramedic program would be assisted by the integration of services. He fi ther stated that he
was in agreement with the objectives of the program, but that the report was not fully
evaluated.
Dr. Walker and Dr. Barger stated that it was difficult to obtain and relate definitive data to
the Board since such information was not available.
Supervisor Gerber moved the staffs recommendations (as stated in the October 13, 1998,
Board Order which was not on the agenda, and is attached as background).
Supervisor Rogers seconded the motion.
Art Lathrop and Dr. Barger responded to Supervisor Canciarnilla's inquiries about the level of
care paramedics could offer versus EMTs during emergency situations, and what happens
when the patient is transported to a hospital.
Supervisor DeSaulnier inquired if there had been communication with the various affected
cities. Scott Tandy related that reports have been provided to the cities, but he had not
received any feedback.
The Board inquired about a timeline for hiring, and Chief Richter responded that it should be
ready by January.
Supervisor DeSaulnier requested an amendment to the motion that a report come back to the
Board in three months rather than six months. And the maker of the motion and the seconder
responded in the affirmative. Chief Richter stated that was fine.
Dr. Walker stated that getting a paramedic to a situation quicker is going to be better, and
what should be monitored is ambulance transport times.
Scott Tandy requested affirmation from Supervisors Gerber and Rogers if the September 22,
1998, recommendations on the Board Order were part of the motion today, and they both
responded they were part of the motion.
Following fi ther discussion, the Board took the following action:
AOCMM the status report on the feasibility of integrating the CDnitm Costa Fire
Protection District P,aua nedic Program and the American Medical Response (AMR)
arannredic Service into a single service; APPROVED the reconanendations on the
September 22, 1998 Board Order(as ached); DEURNWOD du t the AN R an"dance
response staff stated in Paragraph E of Item D.9 on the September 22, 1998>Board Order
is modified with no exen dons for service response; and.REQUESTM that the County
Administrator's staff and the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District provide an interim
report to the Board in three nvnths.
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Total.22862
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ARM.COVERAGE ISSUES
1 Reduction i • of 94 unit/hra/wk-
3% Less Trans "ours
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i ■Increase of 13" uniVbrs/wk of
�a�ramee�i+�t�vver�e
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AIM.COVERAGE ISSUES � CONTINUING SAFEGUARDS
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■D during -- k hours � ■E ,Agee cy ur onitors mandft
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paramedics hours in the system. 4
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QUESTIONS/CONCERNS ounn 3NS I CONCERNS
•Increased time to hospital?
•system impacts. East&West?
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3 r 8.4% (1162)are critical calls
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•Avg.on-scene time for Criticalcritica
All times are monitored —1�0 RESPONSE TIME CHANGES
calls is 17 min,
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TO: BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
Costs.
County
FROM: PHIL BATCHELOR, County Administrator
CHIEF KEITH RICHTER, Contra Costa County Fire Protection District
WILLIAM WALKER, Health Services Director
DATE: October 13, 1998
SUBJECT: PROPOSED INTEGRATION OF CONTRA COSTA COUNTY FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT
(CCCFPD) PARAMEDIC PROGRAM AND AMERICAN MEDICAL RESPONSE (AMR)
PARAMEDIC SERVICES- (CONTINUED FROM SEPTEMBER 22, 1998)
Specific Request(s)or Recommendation(s) & Background &Justification
RECO MENDA ISA ONS:
1. CONSIDER presentation by the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District based on additional
information developed by the Fire District, the County EMS Agency and AMR on the objectives of the
proposed integration plan; deployment of the additional four paramedic engine companies; the impact of
early paramedic response and comparative information on EMS agencies in other jurisdictions.
2. CONSIDER presentation by Dr. Barger, Contra Costa County EMS MedicalDirector.
3. ACKNOWLEDGE that the Paramedics' Union, Local 250 has opposed the integration plan because of the
perceived impacts of the proposal as outlined in the attached position statement which has been circulated
to area health care professionals. ,
4, CONSIDER approving recommendations in the September 22, 1998 report from County Administrator, Fire
Chief and Health Services Director(attached).
,TIZ411�, )-.7"
Continued on Attachment:--X YES Signature:
Recommendation of County Administrator
Recommendation of Board Committee
Approve Other
Signature(s):
Action of Board on: Approved as Recommended—Other --
Vote of Supervisors: I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS IS A TRUE
AND CORRECT COPY OF AN ACTION TAKEN
Unanimous(Absent ) AND ENTERED ON THE MINUTES OF THE
Ayes: Noes: } BOARD OF SUPERVISORS ON DATE SHOWN.
ATTACHMENT
Contact: Scutt Tandy(825)335-1087 Attested:
cc: County Administrator Phil Batchelor,Clerk of
Contra Costa County Fire Protection District the Board of Supervisors
Contra Costa County Fire Advisory Commission and County Administrator
Contra Costa County Taxpayer Association
County Grand Jury By: , DEPUTY
local 1230
Local 250
American Medical Response
Health Services Department
City of Clayton
City of Concord
City of Lafayette
City of Martinez
City of Pleasant Hill
City of Walnut Creek
REASONS FOR RECOMMENDATION/BACKGROUND:
On September 22, 1998 the Board of Supervisors considered the report and recommendations of the County
Administrator, the Fire Chief and the Health Services Director regarding the proposed integration of the fire district
paramedic program and the private ambulance service (AMR).
The recommendations in the September 22, 1998 report were developed through a work group in a series of
meetings involving the County Administrator's Office, the Contra Costa County Fire Chief, EMS agency staff, the
Professional Fire Fighters Union Local 1230 and the Paramedics Union Local 250 representing AMR's field
personnel. The recommendations in the report were agreed to by all of the participants of the integration work
group.
During the discussion of this issue at the September 22, 1998 Board meeting, two members of the Paramedics
Union Local 250 expressed their concerns about the element of the plan that would allow for increased ambulance
response times in central county.
As a result of the opposition expressed by the Local 250 members and in response to the request for additional
information by Board members, this matter was continued to October 13, 1998.
County Fire District Chief of Emergency Medical Services, Stephen Maiero will present additional comparative
information and Dr. Barger will discuss the benefits of early paramedic intervention. Dr. Barger is an emergency
physician at the Contra Costa Regional Medical Center and is the President of the Emergency Medical Directors'
Association of California (EMDAC).
September 28, 1998
Dear Health Care Professional,
We are writing you this letter on behalf of the Paramedics and EMT's in Local Union
250 who need your support. Recently a proposal has been put forward with regards to
The Contra Costa County Fire Department's First Responder Paramedic Program that we
strongly believe will affect the citizensof Contra Costa County.
Due to budgetary constraints within the fire department, The Board of Supervisors
froze further development of the fire department's paramedic program until they could
find additional funding. A proposal was put forth that would use a portion of the Measure
H money currently being used by AMR West, to fund this program. And in exchange,
AMR's compliance time to arrive on the scene of a call in the central county area would
drop from a 10 minute limit 95% of the time, to 10 minutes 90 percent jofthe time.
What this means to AN1R paramedics is a reduction of FOUR full time Paramedic
positions and the elimination of the TWO 24 hour paramedic stations currently operating
in Walnut Creek. The paramedic stations would be replaced with shorter hour cars which
would roam throughout the entire county and no longer be limited to central county. It is
our experience that these type of cuts in personnel and 24 hour units will increase
response times and delay transport times for patients throughout the county.
We as health care professionals are very concerned about these proposed changes and
brought this issue t7o the attention of the Board of Supervisors at its meeting on September
22nd. We raised some valid concerns and the Board delayed implementation of the
proposed program until the fire department could provide them with further information.
The Centra Costa County Fire Department as well as the Emergency Medical
Services Director, Art Lathrop, state that since there will be ALS paramedics on some of
the fire engines, there would be no expected delays in transport. We feel this argument has
no validity because the majority of patient care occurs during transport to the hospital. In
addition, they contend that the fire department paramedics first on scene would be able to
"package"the patient for the ambulance paramedics, shortening the time the transporting
paramedics are on scene. Since implementation of this program, we as transporting
paramedics have seen no evidence of quicker on scene times. Furthermore, we find it hard
to believe that the patients will be ready to go when the ambulance arrives, considering
that AMIt,carries the gumey and other equipment necessary for transport.
..............................................................
.......................................................
.......................................
As I am sure you are well aware, early ALS interventions along with rapid and
timely transport is a very important aspect of care of a critical patient in the field. And the
paramedics working for AMR firmly believe in any program that provides better patient
care. What we disagree with is the idea that early intervention replaces timely and rapid
transport to the hospital. We also believe changing the response times in central county
will affect patient care in all parts of the county since ambulances from other areas will be
needed to make up the decreased availability in central county.
We strongly believe that critical trauma patients and medical patients having a
massive MI or CVA Oust to name a few) need to be transported in a early and rapid
fashion in order to save lives. We as paramedics working in the county believe that our
patients will be affected by these changes. We ask for your help and knowledge as health
care professionals in supporting our position. Local 250 has presented other options to the
EMS Office which would help to fund the fire department's program without causing
changes in current ambulance response times.
We ask you to please show your support and express your concerns on October
13th at the Board of Supervisors Meeting or to write to the City Council and Board of
Supervisors members opposing the proposed plan to fund the fire department's program
by cutting ambulances and delaying response times. Thank you for your time.
Board of Supervisor Members
Jim Rodgers Mark Desaulnier
District I District 4
(510)374-3231 (925)672-2812
Fax(510) 374-3429 Fax(925) 646-5763
Gayle Ulkema Joe Canciamilla
District 2 District 5
(925) 335-1046 (925) 427-8138
Fax(925) 335-1076 Fax(925)427-8142
Donna Gerber
District 3
(925)825-8683
Fax(925) 820-6627
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...................................................................
Contra
Costa
TO: BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
+,,,
FROM: PHIL BATCHELOR, County Administrator Co
CHIEF KEITH RICHTER, Contra Costa County Fire Protection District
WILLIAM WALKER, Health Services Director
DATE: September 22, 1998
SUBJECT: STATUS REPORT ON INTEGRATION OF CONTRA COSTA COUNTY FIRE PROTECTION
DISTRICT(CCCFPD)PARAMEDIC PROGRAM AND AMERICAN MEDICAL RESPONSE (AMR)
PARAMEDIC SERVICES
Specific Request(s)or Recommendation(s) & Background &Justification
RECOMMENDATIONS:
1 ACCEPT the report of the County Administrator, the County Fire Chief and the Health Services Director
on the status of the proposed integration of the fire paramedic program and the private ambulance service.
2. REVISE the current paramedic program to integrate on a limited basis the CCCFPD paramedic program
with the AMR paramedic service beginning December 1, 1998 for one year.
3. AUTHORIZE deployment of four additional paramedic engine companies.
4. AUTHORIZE the Health Services Director to execute an amendment to the Emergency Ambulance
Agreement with AMR providing for a $14,550 reduction in monthly subsidy to AMR beginning
December 1, 1998 and ending on December 31, 1999 and a reduction in AMR's ambulance response
requirement for the central county portion of the CCCFPD beginning January 4, 1999.
5. AUTHORIZE a shift in payment to CCCFPD in the amount of$189,150 (13 months) from County Service
Area EM-1 in Measure H funds for increased paramedic first responder services beginning December 1,
1998.
6. DIRECT the Health Services Director and the Fire Chief to evaluate the fiscal, operational, and service
impacts of the integrated pilot paramedic program and repo back to the Board in July 1999.
Continued on Attachment—X— YES Signature:
Recommendation of County Administrator
Recommendation of Board Committee
Approve — Other
Signature(s):
Action of Board on: 1 as RUC01111viel —Other X
CONTINUED TO 00tober 13, 1998 at 2:30 p.m.; The Health Services Director and the Fire
Chief are DIRECTED to provide the Board information as requested on issues including
op evaluation of the fiscal, operational, and service impacts of the integrated pilot
rAramedic program, the implementation plan of the program, an evaluation of the effect-
iveness of the program to date, and inftceittion on ambulance return times when assistance
Vote of Supervisors: is utilized
Unanimous(Absent
Ayes:— Noss:
Contact:Terry McGraw(335-1055)
cc: County Administrator I hmby ce"Ihat#*is a tft
md correct cop
Contra Costa CounWFIre ProteotingDistrict copy of
sa &00" OnAred w to mitua of
Contra Costa County Fire Advisory Commission 90W.O1
Onto 40 31*".
87 '.'I 1 1.
Contra Costa County Taxpayer Association ATft MI:
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own 64 6
County Grand Jury 'PHI BAT04r-MR f
Local 4230 iELOR,Clafk1taBoid
Of 84WANis and C0WWA&nWshWr
Local 250
American Medical Response
Health Services Department BY 'Deputy
Status Report on Integration of Contra Costa County
Fire Protection District (CCCFPD) Paramedic Program and
American Medical Response (AMR) Paramedic Services
September 22, 1998
Page 2
7. DIRECT the County Administrator, Health Services Director and Fire Chief to continue working with AMR
and with other fire agencies within the County to determine the feasibility of further integration of public
and private paramedic services, conditioned upon the identification of new or existing funding sources.
REASONS FOR EIECOMMENDATIONISACKGROUND:
On August 4, 1998, the Board of Supervisors approved recommendations from the Finance Committee that the
CCCFPD pilot paramedic program be frozen at the current level of four units and that deployment of the remaining
four pilot units be deferred until program funding is identified. In addition the County Administrator, the Fire Chief
and the Health Services Director were directed to work with AMR to prepare and submit a plan to the Board'for
the integration of fire district paramedics and the private ambulance system into a single system, conditioned upon
the identification of viable, realistic funding and to report back to the Board any progress toward that objective in
September. This is a report on the progress to date of the work group appointed by the Board.
The work group has held three meetings including two meetings with representatives of the Professional Fire
Fighters Union Local 1230 and the Paramedics Union Local 250 representing AMR's field personnel. As a result
of these meetings,AMR has developed a plan which would shift from AMR to CCCFPD some Measure H subsidy
money, along with responsibility for providing faster paramedic response. The proposed plan includes the
following elements:
A. The plan meets the Board's condition of added funding to offset added cost.
B. CCCFPD would continue to operate its existing four paramedic units (engine companies) and would
implement an additional four paramedic units effective January 4, 1998. The eight units would be operated
with firefighter paramedic staffing on a 24-hour/7-day per week basis.
C. AMR would reconfigure its ambulance deployment resulting in a minor reduction in coverage in central
county. This reconfiguration would result in a cost reduction to AMR of$174,60€1 annually. This reduction
in subsidy demand would be shifted to offset costs of the CCCFPD paramedic'program.
D. AMR would provide an additional $14,550 by accepting a subsidy reduction one month prior to
implementing a reconfiguration of services. This would provide funding to cover the start-up period for the
additional'fire paramedic'personnel prior to their assignment to single-paramedic units.
E. The County would modify the existing AMR ambulance response standard. The existing standard calls
for a 10-minute response to 95 percent of emergency calls throughout AMR's service area. The new
standard would maintain the 10-minute 95 percent standard in east and west county, but set a 10-minute
90 percent standard for central county.
F. CCCFPD will deploy its additional paramedic units at stations within central county in a manner to optimize
response times to areas with reduced ambulance coverage. CCCFPD and AMR have worked together
to develop complementary deployment plans for both fire and AMR paramedic units. This plan will provide
for an earlier arrival of paramedic personnel, while having a negligible effect on the overall time a patient
waits for a transport unit.
G. Both CCCFPD and AMR will provide training and supervision to its personnel to assure a smooth and
efficient transition of care from first responder to transport paramedics.
H. The EMS Agency will work with CCCFPD and AMR to establish a mechanism for evaluating the impact
of the integrated firelprivate paramedic system on patient care.
1. The $14,550 monthly subsidy shift exceeds the marginal costs of the additional paramedics, as well as
funding up to 75% of the differential costs of the eight paramedic units.
During the course of the one-year pilot paramedic program, the County Administrator, the County Fire District,the
Health Services department and AMR will continue to pursue ways to further integrate the fire district and the
private ambulance company services and report back to the Board of Supervisors in July 1999.