REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
OF THE INLAND COUNTIES EMERGENCY MEDICAL AGENCY
AND RECORD OF ACTION
June 23, 2020
FROM
THOMAS G. LYNCH, EMS Administrator, Inland Counties Emergency Medical Agency
SUBJECT
Title v
Contracts with Local Hospitals for Cardiovascular ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction Receiving Center Designation
End
RECOMMENDATION(S)
Recommendation
Acting as the governing body of the Inland Counties Emergency Medical Agency (ICEMA):
1. Approve revenue contracts with each of the hospitals listed below, extending the term by an additional five years (from July 1, 2020 through June 30, 2025), in which ICEMA shall continue to receive an annual fee of $17,445 from each contract to offset the costs associated with designating these hospitals as a Cardiovascular ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction (STEMI) Receiving Center:
a. Desert Valley Hospital
b. Loma Linda University Medical Center
c. Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center
d. San Antonio Regional Hospital
e. St. Bernardine Medical Center
f. St. Mary Medical Center
(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 annual fee of $17,445 paid by each hospital will cover the costs incurred by ICEMA related to the evaluation and oversight of the Cardiovascular STEMI program. Revenue and appropriation from these contracts are included in ICEMA’s 2020-21 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 an acute care hospital. ICEMA ensures an effective system of quality patient care and coordinated emergency medical response by planning, implementing and evaluating an effective emergency medical services system including pre-hospital providers, specialty care hospitals and hospitals.
Approval of these contracts will allow the hospitals listed above to receive and provide care for STEMI patients, as well as allow ICEMA to administer, monitor, evaluate, and provide continuous quality improvement programs of the implemented STEMI Care System.
On April 22, 2008 (Item No. 87), the Board of Directors (Board) authorized ICEMA to establish STEMI Receiving Centers.
ICEMA has since entered into a number of different contracts and MOUs with various hospitals, including: Desert Valley Hospital (August 7, 2012, Item No. 50 and June 28, 2016, Item No. 99); Loma Linda University Medical Center (October 21, 2008, Item No. 87 and June 28, 2016, Item No. 99); Pomona Valley Medical Center (December 9, 2008, Item No. 109 and June 28, 2016, Item No. 99); San Antonio Regional Hospital (October 21, 2008, Item No. 87 and June 28, 2016, Item No. 99), St. Bernardine Medical Center (April 28, 2009, Item No. 47 and June 28, 2016, Item No. 99), and St. Mary Medical Center (December 9, 2008, Item No. 109 and June 28, 2016, Item No. 99)
This item seeks to establish new contracts with these hospitals and all contracts will include the same contract term dates and will reflect consistent standard contract language.
On July 1, 2019, the State of California’s STEMI Critical Care System Regulations became effective. To align current STEMI Receiving Center Designation standards with State regulations, ICEMA updated its STEMI designation policy to reflect language from the California Code of Regulations, Title 22, Division 9, Chapter 7.1, STEMI Critical Care System. Cardiovascular STEMI Receiving Centers Designation will now be referred to as a STEMI Critical Care System. This language change will also be changed in the new contracts.
The goal of designating STEMI Receiving Centers is to identify medical facilities that have an organized approach to treatment of STEMI patients with qualified staff and appropriate capabilities. EMS field personnel, who are specially trained to identify STEMI patients in the pre-hospital setting, can rapidly transport STEMI patients directly to designated centers for timely treatment. The data demonstrates that the survival from a STEMI is largely dependent upon prompt recognition and transport to facilities demonstrating the ability and commitment to provide rapid care with the proper resources.
PROCUREMENT
Not applicable.
REVIEW BY OTHERS
This item has been reviewed by County Counsel (John Tubbs II, Deputy County Counsel, 387-3203) on April 13, 2020; Risk Management (LeAnna Williams, Risk Assessment Officer, 386-8623) on April 13, 2020; Finance (Carl Lofton, Administrative Analyst, 387-5404) on June 8, 2020; and County Finance and Administration (Matthew Erickson, County Chief Financial Officer, 387-5423) on June 8, 2020.