REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
OF INLAND COUNTIES EMERGENCY MEDICAL AGENCY
AND RECORD OF ACTION
June 13, 2023
FROM
DANIEL MUÑOZ, Interim EMS Administrator, Inland Counties Emergency Medical Agency
SUBJECT
Title
Non-Financial Authorization Agreement with Coast 2 Coast Public Safety for Basic and Advanced Life Support Transport Services within Inyo County
End
RECOMMENDATION(S)
Recommendation
Acting as the governing body of Inland Counties Emergency Medical Agency, approve non-financial Authorization Agreement with Coast 2 Coast Public Safety to provide Basic Life Support and Advanced Life Support transport services within Inyo County for medical aid responses, for the period from June 13, 2023 through June 30, 2024.
(Presenter: Daniel Muñoz, Interim EMS Administrator, 388-5807)
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 and Stakeholders.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Approval of this agreement will not result in the use of Discretionary General Funding (Net County Cost), nor will it affect the budget of Inland Counties Emergency Medical Agency (ICEMA) as it is non-financial in nature.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
ICEMA, as the Local Emergency Medical Services Agency (LEMSA), is responsible for ensuring effective Emergency Medical Services (EMS) for San Bernardino, Inyo, and Mono Counties. ICEMA administers State and local policies and regulations governing the provision of emergency medical care to the sick and injured at the scene of an emergency and during transport to an acute care hospital.
ICEMA has statutory medical control over all EMS providers within its EMS system. State law requires all providers of Advanced Life Support (ALS) services to be authorized by the local EMS agency under the terms of a written authorization agreement that outlines the provider’s EMS obligations and responsibilities. ICEMA reviews provider staffing, drugs, equipment, record keeping, communications, and training to assure compliance with ICEMA standards and requirements.
Earlier this year, ICEMA received notification from the exclusive operating area ambulance provider that serves Inyo County that it would be terminating services in April in accordance with contract provisions. As a result of this notification, Inyo County issued a Request for Proposal (RFP) to seek out a new non-exclusive transportation provider as an immediate mitigation strategy. Inyo County selected Coast 2 Coast Public Safety (Coast) as a new provider based on the competitive RFP process. The new EMS provider is required to comply with ICEMA requirements for electronic patient care reports and data collections. Data received by virtue of this requirement will be made part of the ICEMA Quality Improvement Program used for the purpose of evaluating and improving the overall EMS system.
Approval of this recommendation will authorize Coast to provide Basic Life Support (BLS) and ALS EMS transport services within Inyo County, and more specifically the City of Bishop. Coast agrees to provide BLS and ALS EMS transport services, and to comply with ICEMA protocols, policies, and procedures relating to the delivery of emergency medical care of the sick and injured at the scene of an emergency and during transport.
This agreement is for a period of approximately one year, effective June 13, 2023 through June 30, 2024, and may be renewed annually for four additional years upon mutual agreement of the parties. This agreement may be terminated by either party upon 90 days’ written notice.
PROCUREMENT
Not applicable.
REVIEW BY OTHERS
This item has been reviewed by County Counsel (John Tubbs II, Deputy County Counsel, 387-5455) on May 24, 2023; Finance (Carl Lofton, Administrative Analyst, 387-5404) on May 25, 2023; and County Finance and Administration (Robert Saldana, Deputy Executive Officer, 387-5423) on May 25, 2023.