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
Amendment to Contract for Medical Director
End
RECOMMENDATION(S)
Recommendation
Acting as the governing body of the Inland Counties Emergency Medical Agency, approve Amendment No. 8 to Contract No. 06-1117 with Reza Vaezazizi, M.D., to provide medical direction and control, at an annual cost of $145,000, for the period of July 1, 2021 through June 30, 2024.
(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.
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 $145,000. Sufficient appropriation and revenue have been included in the Inland Counties Emergency Medical Agency’s (ICEMA) 2021-22 budget and will be included in future recommended budgets.
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., 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. The contract is being amended to allow Dr. Vaezazizi to continue to provide medical direction and control through June 30, 2024.
On November 7, 2006 (Item No. 57), the ICEMA Governing Board (Board) approved Contract No. 06-1117 with Reza Vaezazizi, M.D., to provide part-time medical direction to ICEMA, in the annual 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 Contract No. 06-1117, to increase the annual amount from $45,000 to $90,000, effective July 1, 2007.
On August 19, 2008 (Item No. 44), the Board approved Amendment No. 2 to Contract No. 06-1117, to increase the annual amount from $90,000 to $100,000, for the period September 1, 2008 through June 30, 2009.
On December 14, 2010 (Item No. 77), the Board approved Amendment No. 3 to Contract No. 06-1117, to increase the annual amount from $100,000 to $145,000, for the period January 1, 2011 through June 30, 2011.
On October 6, 2015 (Item No. 74), the Board approved Amendment No. 4 to Contract No. 06-1117, to continue to provide medical direction and control, for the period 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. ICEMA opted to extend the contract each year to continue medical direction and control for three successive one-year periods until June 30, 2021.
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 quality improvement program.
• Set and approve standards for medical equipment used in prehospital care.
PROCUREMENT
Not applicable.
REVIEW BY OTHERS
This item has been reviewed by County Counsel (Cynthia O’Neill, Principal Assistant County Counsel and John Tubbs II, Deputy County Counsel, 387-5455) on April 14, 2021, respectively; Human Resources (Gina King, Human Resources Division Chief, 387-5571) on June 14, 2021; Finance (Carl Lofton, Administrative Analyst, 387-5404) on May 4, 2021; and County Finance and Administration (Matthew Erickson, County Chief Financial Officer, 387-5423) on May 4, 2021.