REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
OF INLAND COUNTIES EMERGENCY MEDICAL AGENCY
AND RECORD OF ACTION
December 3, 2024
FROM
DANIEL MUÑOZ, Interim EMS Administrator, Inland Counties Emergency Medical Agency
SUBJECT
Title
Contract with Bear Valley Community Healthcare District for Stroke Receiving Center Designation as an Acute Stroke Ready Hospital
End
RECOMMENDATION(S)
Recommendation
Acting as the governing body of the Inland Counties Emergency Medical Agency, approve revenue contract with Bear Valley Community Healthcare District for Stroke Receiving Center Designation as an Acute Stroke Ready Hospital from December 3, 2024 through June 30, 2029, for an annual amount of $19,045.
(Presenter: Daniel Muñoz, Interim EMS Administrator, 388-5823)
Body
COUNTY AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER GOALS & OBJECTIVES
Provide for the Safety, Health and Social Service Needs of County Residents.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Approval of this item will not result in the use of Discretionary General Funding (Net County Cost). The annual fee of $19,045 paid by Bear Valley Community Healthcare District (BVCHD) will fund the costs incurred by Inland Counties Emergency Medical Agency (ICEMA) related to the evaluation and oversight of the Stroke System. Revenue and appropriation from this contract are included in ICEMA’s 2024-25 budget and will be included in future recommended budgets.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
ICEMA, as the Local Emergency Medical Services Agency (LEMSA), is responsible for ensuring effective Emergency Medical Services (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 during transport to a care hospital. ICEMA ensures an effective system of quality patient care and coordinated emergency medical response by planning, implementing, and evaluating an effective EMS system, including pre-hospital providers, specialty care hospitals, and hospitals.
California Health and Safety Code, Section 1798.150, provides the authority for a LEMSA to designate hospital facilities according to critical care capabilities. Additionally, the California Code of Regulations, Division 9, Chapter 7.2, outlines guidelines for establishing a Stroke Critical Care System. ICEMA is the LEMSA responsible for implementing a Stroke Critical Care System, which was approved by the ICEMA Board of Directors on September 13, 2011 (Item No. 43).
The goal of designating Stroke Receiving Centers is to identify medical facilities that have an organized approach to treatment of stroke patients with qualified staff and appropriate capabilities. EMS field personnel, who are specially trained to identify stroke victims in the pre-hospital setting, can rapidly transport stroke patients directly to designated centers for timely treatment. The survival rate from a stroke is largely dependent upon prompt recognition and transport to facilities demonstrating the ability and commitment to provide rapid care with the proper resources. Current treatment guidelines from the American Stroke Association recommend rapid identification of stroke patients and transport to specialized medical facilities that have an organized approach to the management of stroke patients.
Approval of this contract will designate BVCHD as an acute ready Stroke Receiving Center, capable of receiving and treating stroke patients. This designation will provide more timely care for patients, which would otherwise require transport to another capable facility, delaying patient care.
PROCUREMENT
N/A
REVIEW BY OTHERS
This item has been reviewed by County Counsel (John Tubbs II, Deputy County Counsel, 387-5455) on October 10, 2024; Risk Management (Loretta Acuña, Staff Analyst II, 386-9039) on October 11, 2024; Finance (Carl Lofton, Administrative Analyst, 387-5404) on October 15, 2024; and County Finance and Administration (Robert Saldana, Deputy Executive Officer, 387-5423) on October 21, 2024.