REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
OF THE INLAND COUNTIES EMERGENCY MEDICAL AGENCY
AND RECORD OF ACTION
June 8, 2021
FROM
THOMAS G. LYNCH, EMS Administrator, Inland Counties Emergency Medical Agency
SUBJECT
Title v
Contract to Reimburse American Medical Response of Inland Empire for Participation in the California Emergency Medical Services Authority’s +EMS Program
End
RECOMMENDATION(S)
Recommendation
Acting as the governing body of the of the Inland Counties Emergency Medical Agency, approve contract to reimburse American Medical Response of Inland Empire, a local Emergency Medical Services provider, in the amount of $18,750 for the work performed, completion of milestones and participation in the California Emergency Medical Services Authority’s +EMS Program, for the period of June 8, 2021 through September 30, 2021.
(Presenter: Thomas G. Lynch, EMS Administrator, 388-5830)
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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.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Approval of this item will not result in the use of Discretionary General Funding (Net County Cost). The reimbursement to American Medical Response (AMR) of Inland Empire, a local Emergency Medical Services (EMS) provider, will be funded through $116,400 in grant funds passed through from Manifest MedEx (MX) to the Inland Counties Emergency Medical Agency (ICEMA) for the California Emergency Medical Services Authority’s +EMS Program in the amount of $18,750 for participation and completion of milestones. Sufficient appropriation and revenue are included in the ICEMA’s budget for fiscal year 2020-21, and will be included in future recommend budgets.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
ICEMA, as the local Emergency Medical Services (EMS) agency, is responsible for planning and 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.
The Federal Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act, enacted as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, promotes the adoption and meaningful use of health information technology. One of the key components of “meaningful use” is the implementation of a health information exchange (HIE). The goal of an HIE is to provide the capability to electronically move clinical information across health organizations within a region or community, thereby allowing physicians to assemble a single “continuity of care” record for each patient. This single patient record is then available to all providers participating in the exchange, enhancing the quality and efficiency of patient care.
The Inland Empire Health Information Exchange (IEHIE) Coalition was formed in April, 2009, and is comprised of members from the inland region of the Hospital Association of Southern California, Inland Empire medical associations, hospitals, physician groups, and other healthcare organizations. The IEHIE’s mission is to achieve continuity of care in the Inland Empire community by establishing an HIE within the Inland Empire.
On November 15, 2011 (Item No. 72) the Board of Directors approved Contract No. 11-810 with ImageTrend, Inc. for the purchase and support of Electronic Patient Care Record (ePCR) software necessary for the collection of EMS patient care throughout the ICEMA region. On June 23, 2020 (Item No. 101) the Board of Directors approved Contract No. 20-521 with ImageTrend, Inc. for continued support of Electronic Patient Care Record (ePCR) software, for the period of July 1, 2020 through June 30, 2025. This software has been in use since and has provided for the health and social services needs of San Bernardino, Inyo and Mono County residents and allowed ICEMA to comply with State data reporting requirements using the Federal data standards known as National Emergency Medical Services Information System (NEMSIS).
On May 6, 2014 (Item No. 71), the ICEMA Board of Directors approved a non-financial contract with Inland Empire Electronic Health Record Resources Center (IEEHRRC), for participation in the IEHIE, for a period of May 6, 2014 though the completion of the exchange. IEEHRRC and IEHIE merged to form Manifest MedEx (MX). The contract allowed ICEMA to participate through data interfaces with the ICEMA ePCR data system.
On December 8, 2020 (Item No. 48) the Board of Directors approved Contract No. 20-1209 with MX to receive grant funds passed through from MX to the Inland Counties Emergency Medical Agency for the California Emergency Medical Services Authority’s +EMS Program in the amount of $116,400 for providing project management and completion of milestones with emergency medical services providers, and the electronic patient care records vendor (ImageTrend, Inc.), for the period of December 8, 2020 through September 30, 2021.
The IEHIE Coalition partnered with MX to coordinate data sharing with Riverside and San Bernardino Counties. The +EMS Program allows EMS field personnel to search for the patients’ medical history, if available, saving time and allowing the most appropriate medical care in the field. MX currently shares data among 600 healthcare organizations across California, including hospitals, health plans, accountable care organizations (ACOs) and other ambulatory groups. This contract allows ICEMA, as the local EMS agency (LEMSA) for the Counties of San Bernardino, Inyo, and Mono, to reimburse AMR with MX grant funding for meeting each milestone of implementation of a scalable SEARCH, ALERT, FILE and RECONCILE (SAFR) model for data sharing/exchange and participation in the +EMS Program.
PROCUREMENT
Not applicable.
REVIEW BY OTHERS
This item has been reviewed by County Counsel (John Tubbs II, Deputy County Counsel, 387-3203) on April 30, 2021; Risk Management (LeAnna Williams, Risk Assessment Officer, 386-8623) on May 3, 2021; Finance (Carl Lofton, Administrative Analyst, 387-5404) on May 24, 2021; and County Finance and Administration (Matthew Erickson, County Chief Financial Officer, 387-5423) on May 24, 2021.