Minutes 11-17-2011 - Laserfiche WebLink

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3. Discussion with the Board of Countv Commissioners Re�ardinq Plans to Improve the Emerqencv Medical Services Deliverv Svstem Commissioner McKee made reference to the equipment needs over the next few years and asked why the 200 portable radios would not be purchased on a staggered basis. Frank Montes de Oca said that this is a worst case scenario. He will look at this and see if there is another way. The best case scenario would be to stagger them. Commissioner McKee asked how many radios the ambulances currently employ. Frank Montes de Oca said 130 radios. Chair Pelissier said that the staffing needs seem to be increasing over the next number of years and she would like to know the industry standards for staffing. Dinah Jeffries said that they do use the APCO standards, which is the Association of Public Safety Communications Officials, and it is a national standard in the 911 industry. She said that she would send the County Commissioners the report. She said that it is very unsafe for telecommunicators to be handling multiple calls. Frank Clifton said that these positions are high turnover jobs. He said that the recommendation is for the County Commissioners to approve in concept and it will depend on budget constraints. Commissioner Gordon asked if this was going to come back as an agenda item so that the volunteer fire departments could comment. She would like to hear what the public has to say on this plan outside of the budget process. Commissioner McKee said that it would be better if the fire trucks could put in GPS systems. Dinah Jefferies said that this is an easy process to implement, but she had not been requested to do that. Commissioner McKee asked that this be implemented, if possible. Commissioner Hemminger asked clarifying questions, which were answered by staff. Commissioner McKee asked about the preliminary conversation of co-locating an ambulance at Orange Rural Fire Department. He said that he had heard that there had been no follow-up from the County. Frank Clifton said that this discussion took place during the budget process last year ,� and it has taken awhile to get this site started. This can go forward, but there is no ambulance to put there now. Commissioner McKee said that this is an ideal place for a northern base. He is concerned that the County has not been more aggressive in following up with this. Commissioner Jacobs made reference to the average response times and said thathe continues to find these numbers misleading because the response times in the northern part of the County skew the actual average. He thinks that it would be useful to explain that the goal is m,ore accurate numbers. Frank Montes de Oca said that he will go back and try to get better numbers that illustrate particular areas. Commissioner Foushee supported the comments ri�ade by Commissioner Jacobs and Commissioner McKee. Commissioner Foushee made reference to the Medical Director and asked how much input they have. Kim Woodward said that the Medical Director is involved in all aspects. This person is included in hiring positions and training decisions as well as delivery of services. The Medical Director also works closely with Durham Technical Community College and that paramedic program.