Orange County NC Website
Browse       Search
Orange County EMS <br />The organizational structure and responsibility are clear. A broad range of services are provided. <br />Twenty -four paramedics, 24 EMT's and a management team are budgeted in 2007. The <br />Emergency Management Services (EMS) Director supervises three layers of middle management <br />until the Shift Supervisors provide this service. The EMS service is based on a tiered system <br />consisting of Emergency Medical Dispatch (EMD), Fire Department First Responders, and <br />Initial Response Vehicle Paramedic. Staff are over burdened. EMS commonly work 24 hour <br />shifts with 320 hours in a 28 day cycle. Technology is not fully used in documentation where a <br />paper based system prevails. Efland and other areas are poorly served. <br />Without a unit north of Hillsborough, response times are compromised and places a greater <br />burden on fire department first responders. Value of structures is not given. Apparatus <br />information is not given. Primary vehicles are ambulances and sport utility vehicles. Ambulances <br />are in short supply. <br />SAGE recommends merging North Orange County Rescue Squad into the EMS Division. This <br />includes renovating the Rescue Squad's facility as an EMS headquarters (90). SAGE <br />recommends a three shift rotation of 14 hours (down from 24). SAGE recommends increasing <br />IRV Medics from five to eight per shift, increasing EMT's per shift from six to 19, and active <br />ambulances from three to five. SAGE recommends improving relationships with fire <br />departments and establish a training officer position to work with fire departments. SAGE <br />recommends a medic unit and transport unit to the Orange Rural Station 2, and make permanent <br />the IRV unit in Efland. Costs for these recommendations are not given. <br />Issues Not Addressed: <br />1. Population <br />2. Level of risk <br />3. Population centers and projected growth areas any gaps affecting services and critical areas <br />to be addressed <br />4. Any changes in the facility configuration <br />5. Identify the population in the unincorporated areas of Orange County served <br />6. Provide an estimated cost (operating and capital) of recommended solutions or alternative <br />solutions proposed <br />List of Original Needs <br />a. Effectiveness, appropriateness, demand, response capability: The division is overburdened. <br />b. Strength of current configuration and operations The organizational structure and <br />responsibility are clear. The EMS service is based on a tiered system consisting of <br />Emergency Medical Dispatch (ENO), Fire Department First Responders, and Initial <br />Response Vehicle Paramedic. <br />c. Weakness of current and planned configuration and operation: Staff is over burdened. EMS <br />commonly work 24 hour shifts with 320 hours in a 28 day cycle. Technology is not fully <br />used in documentation where a paper based system prevails. <br />d. Assess the location and adequacy of each facility equipment volunteers: Efland and other <br />areas are poorly served. <br />--f 23 <br />