Title
Health and Human Services Agency recommending the Board authorize a proposed change to the El Dorado County Emergency Services Authority System Status Management Policy, eliminating one half-time medic unit from the system to allow the Emergency Services Authority to close a projected budget deficit, and approve the revised System Status Management Policy attached hereto as Attachment A, identifying the plan for redistribution of anticipated workload among full time medic units to accommodate the removal of the half-time Medic Unit(M- 26) from the system.
FUNDING: County Service Area (CSA) 7 Special Tax, Property Tax, and fee-for-service.
Body
Fiscal Impact/Change to Net County Cost
There is no Net County Cost associated with this change to the System Status Management Policy.
Background
On June 27, 2006, El Dorado County entered into an agreement with El Dorado County Regional Prehospital Emergency Services Operations Authority (JPA) to provide prehospital advanced life support and dispatch services within County Service Area No.7. (Legistar File #06-1048).
Article XI of the agreement defines response time standards for the purpose of monitoring JPA performance, and approved the following standards:
Area Response Time Compliance %
Urban 10 minutes 90%
Semi-Rural 20 minutes 90%
Rural 20 minutes 90%
Wilderness ASAP N/A
On September 11, 2007, the Board of Supervisors approved a recommendation from the Public Health Department to amend the response time standards based on an analysis that indicated the JPA was substantially exceeding standards in semi-rural areas and was not meeting standards in urban and rural areas. (Legistar File #07-1310).
Area Response Time Compliance %
Urban 11 minutes 90%
Semi-Rural 16 minutes 90%
Rural 24 minutes 90%
Wilderness 90 minutes 90%
On October 25, 2012, the Emergency Services Authority notified the County the JPA Board voted to remove Medic Ambulance 26 (M-26) from the system. M-26 is the half-time ambulance that is used primarily for inter-facility transfers. The notification further stated it was the JPA's "last resort' option to bridge a $1.2 million budget gap for FY 2012/13. In addition, the JPA stated that with the removal of M-26, they can anticipate some decrease in response time numbers, but they are confident they will be able to maintain response time compliance as approved by the Board on September 11, 2007.
Section V, Article IV of Agreement 200-S0811 states: "In the event that the service demand level significantly changes during the period of the Contract, and such change requires the JPA to materially adjust the amount of ambulance coverage, the County shall negotiate appropriate revisions with the JPA to reflect such adjustments. The JPA shall not increase or decrease the service coverage without written consent of the County."
Reason for Recommendation
The Health and Human Services Agency recommends approval of proposed modification to the JPA System Status Management Policy to support the JPA's decision to eliminate the half-time medic unit, and will continue to monitor the JPA to ensure response time standards are being met.
Action(s) to be taken following Board approval
1. Upon Board approval of the revised System Status Management Policy, Board Clerk's Office shall provide two (2) certified minute orders to the Health and Human Services Agency at 3057 Briw Road, Suite A.
2. Health and Human Services Agency shall forward one (1) certified minute order to the JPA for their records.
Contact
Daniel Nielson, M.P.A., Director
Concurrences
County Counsel