REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
OF THE INLAND COUNTIES EMERGENCY MEDICAL AGENCY
AND RECORD OF ACTION
June 22, 2021
FROM
THOMAS G. LYNCH, EMS Administrator, Inland Counties Emergency Medical Agency
SUBJECT
Title v
Conforming and Clarifying Correction to Memorandum of Understanding between Inland Counties Emergency Medical Agency and Emergency Medical Services Providers regarding Advanced Life Support Non-Transport/Transport Emergency Medical Services
End
RECOMMENDATION(S)
Recommendation
Acting as the governing body of the of the Inland Counties Emergency Medical Agency, approve conforming and clarifying correction to Memorandum of Understanding No. 21-334 with the below listed providers regarding Advanced Life Support non-transport/transport emergency medical services within the jurisdictional limits of each respective city or public agency provider and during mutual aid responses until terminated by Inland Counties Emergency Medical Agency or each respective provider.
1. Barstow Fire Protection District
2. Chino Valley Independent Fire District
3. City of Colton Fire Department
4. City of Highland
5. City of Ontario Fire Department
6. City of Redlands Fire Department
7. City of Rialto Fire Department
8. City of Yucaipa
(Presenter: Thomas G. Lynch, EMS Administrator, 388-5830)
Body
COUNTY AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER GOALS & OBJECTIVES
Provide for the Safety, Health and Social Service Needs of County Residents.
Pursue County Goals and Objectives by Working with Other Agencies.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Approval of this item will not result in the use of Discretionary General Funding (Net County Cost) nor will it affect the budget of the Inland Counties Emergency Medical Agency (ICEMA).
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
ICEMA, as the local Emergency Medical Services (EMS) agency, is responsible for ensuring effective EMS for the Counties of San Bernardino, Inyo, and Mono. ICEMA administers State and local codes and regulations governing the provision of emergency medical care to the sick and injured at the scene of an emergency and/or during transport to a care hospital. ICEMA has statutory medical control over all EMS providers within its EMS system.
State law requires local EMS agencies (LEMSAs) to annually submit an emergency medical services plan within its EMS system to the State Emergency Medical Services Authority (EMSA). Pursuant to Health and Safety Code section 1797.204 ICEMA, as the LEMSA, shall plan, implement, and evaluate an emergency medical services system. State law provides that no person or organization shall provide advanced life support or limited advanced life support unless that person or organization is an authorized part of the emergency medical services system of the local EMS agency. This Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between ICEMA and the public agency EMS providers is for the purpose of acquiring EMSA approval of ICEMA’s most recently submitted EMS Plan and all EMS Plans annually submitted thereafter.
Advanced Life Support (ALS) providers are responsible for first responder EMS and/or transporting prehospital patients from the scene of an emergency to acute care hospitals, or to alternate destinations when approved, within an organized EMS system in accordance with California Health and Safety Code Division 2.5, Sections 1797 et. seq., California Code of Regulations, Title 22, Division 9, and EMS policies and procedures established by ICEMA. Each public agency EMS provider agrees to provide ALS and/or non-transport/transport services, and to comply with ICEMA EMS medical control under the authority of ICEMA's medical director as to emergency medical services, pursuant to the EMS Act.
On May 4, 2021 (Item No. 58), the ICEMA Board of Directors (Board) approved MOU No. 21-334 between ICEMA and public agency EMS providers regarding ALS non-transport/transport EMS within the jurisdictional limits of each respective city or public agency provider and during mutual aid responses. This MOU is necessary for annual submission and approval of ICEMA’s EMS Plan.
This conforming and clarifying correction to MOU No. 21-334 has recently been expressed to ICEMA by EMSA as a necessary requirement for EMSA’s approval of ICEMA’s EMS Plan. The correction removes from a Recital in the MOU an acknowledgement by ICEMA regarding asserted statutory rights by the providers, which has been construed by EMSA as a designation of those rights, instead of an acknowledgment. That was not the intent of the language and ICEMA and the public agency EMS providers are amenable to making the clarifying change by deleting the language from the Recital. The change has no substantive legal effect to the original MOU as ICEMA makes no such designation of rights, and such change is in the best interest of ICEMA and the local EMS System.
PROCUREMENT
Not applicable.
REVIEW BY OTHERS
This item has been reviewed by County Counsel (John Tubbs II, Deputy County Counsel, 387-3203) on June 3, 2021; Finance (Carl Lofton, Administrative Analyst, 387-5404) on June 7, 2021; and County Finance and Administration (Matthew Erickson, County Chief Financial Officer, 387-5423) on June 7, 2021.