REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
OF INLAND COUNTIES EMERGENCY MEDICAL AGENCY
AND RECORD OF ACTION
June 11, 2024
FROM
DANIEL MUÑOZ, Interim EMS Administrator, Inland Counties Emergency Medical Agency
SUBJECT
Title
Amendment to Contract for Medical Director
End
RECOMMENDATION(S)
Recommendation
Acting as the governing body of the Inland Counties Emergency Medical Agency:
1. Approve Amendment No. 9 to Contract No. 06-1117 with Reza Vaezazizi, M.D., to provide medical direction and control, at an annual cost of $165,000, extending the contract term by three years, for the total contract term of November 7, 2006 through June 30, 2027, with one, two-year extension option, at an annual cost of $185,000.
2. Authorize the EMS Administrator to execute an amendment to the contract to extend the contract term for a maximum of one, two-year period, at an annual cost of $185,000, subject to review by County counsel.
3. Direct the EMS Administrator to transmit the amendment in relation to extending the term of the contract to the Secretary of the Board of Directors within 30 days of execution.
(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.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Approval of this item will not result in the use of Discretionary General Funding (Net County Cost). The contract is funded through various approved fees and programs at an estimated annual cost of $165,000. Sufficient appropriation and revenue have been included in the Inland Counties Emergency Medical Agency’s (ICEMA) 2024-25 budget and will be included in future recommended budgets, including the $185,000 annual cost for the proposed extension term option.
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 during transport to a care hospital. Under the California Health and Safety Code, the local EMS agency is required to assure medical accountability through the planning, implementation, and evaluation of an EMS system. California EMS regulations require a local EMS agency (LEMSA) to have a medical director who develops policies and protocols for the EMS system.
Reza Vaezazizi, M.D. (Dr. Vaezazizi), is a Board-certified physician in emergency medicine and has extensive experience in Emergency Medical Services (EMS) systems. Dr. Vaezazizi has been the ICEMA Medical Director since November 2006, and has provided invaluable medical oversight to ICEMA and all emergency medical services under his guidance. Dr. Vaezazizi provides expert level understanding of the history of EMS, geographic needs and challenges, local operating scopes of practice, and future direction of EMS in counties under ICEMA’s jurisdiction. The stability and guidance he has brought to ICEMA are invaluable to the department and its future direction. The contract is being amended to allow Dr. Vaezazizi to continue to provide medical direction and control through June 30, 2027.
On November 7, 2006 (Item No. 57), the Board of Directors (Board) approved Contract No. 06-1117 (Contract) with Dr. Vaezazizi, to provide part-time medical direction to ICEMA, in the annual not to exceed amount of $45,000, for the period of November 7, 2006 through June 30, 2007 with automatic renewal for successive one-year periods unless otherwise terminated or amended.
On March 27, 2007 (Item No. 41), the Board approved Amendment No. 1 to the Contract, to increase the annual not to exceed amount from $45,000 to $90,000, to perform expanded duties, effective July 1, 2007, with automatic renewal for successive one-year periods unless otherwise terminated or amended.
On August 19, 2008 (Item No. 44), the Board approved Amendment No. 2 to the Contract, to increase the annual not to exceed amount from $90,000 to $100,000, effective September 1, 2008 with automatic renewal for successive one-year periods unless otherwise terminated or amended.
On December 14, 2010 (Item No. 77), the Board approved Amendment No. 3 to the Contract, to increase the annual not to exceed amount from $100,000 to $145,000, to perform expanded duties, effective January 1, 2011 with automatic renewal for successive one-year periods unless otherwise terminated or amended.
On October 6, 2015 (Item No. 74), the Board approved Amendment No. 4 to the Contract, to continue to provide medical direction and control, for the period of October 5, 2015 through June 30, 2018, with the option to extend the Contract for a maximum of three successive one-year periods, at an estimated annual cost of $145,000. Amendment No. 4 also removed the automatic renewal provision of the Contract and delegated authority to the EMS Administrator to execute any amendments to extend the term. ICEMA opted to extend the contract (Amendments Nos. 5, 6, and 7 done via delegated authority) each year to continue medical direction and control for three successive one-year periods, from July 1, 2018 through June 30, 2021.
On June 22, 2021 (Item No. 109), the Board approved Amendment No. 8 to the Contract to continue to provide medical direction and control, with no change to the estimated annual amount, for the period of July 1, 2021 through June 30, 2024.
Approval of this item will allow Dr. Vaezazizi to continue to:
• Provide medical oversight and control to ICEMA and the EMS System.
• Ensure competency of prehospital personnel who are certified/accredited within Inyo, Mono and San Bernardino Counties.
• Authorize, implement, revise, and maintain integrity of system-wide medical policies and protocols for all patient care activities from dispatch through triage, treatment, and transport.
• Supervise the quality improvement program.
• Set and approve standards for medical equipment used in prehospital care.
PROCUREMENT
N/A
REVIEW BY OTHERS
This item has been reviewed by County Counsel (Richard Luczak, Deputy County Counsel, 387-5455) on April 11, 2024; Human Resources (Gina King, Assistant Director, 387-5560) on April 17, 2024; Finance (Carl Lofton, Administrative Analyst, 387-5404) on May 2, 2024; and County Finance and Administration (Robert Saldana, Deputy Executive Officer, 387-5423) on May 3, 2024.