Orange County NC Website
Browse       Search
3 <br /> vehicles (IRVs) ; provision of all emergency ambulance service by the <br /> two rescue squads; and financing through either fee for service, a <br /> special district tax designed to finance most of the programs and <br /> services of the Emergency Management Department, or some combination. <br /> Description of Service Delivery Model <br /> The Resources Subcommittee examined a number of different service <br /> models, and several variations of the original models . The <br /> recommendation received by the EMS Council from the subcommittee, and <br /> approved unanimously by the Council, involves a service delivery model <br /> with two distinct components. <br /> The "Response/Assessment/Treatment" component would be provided around <br /> the clock by 15-20 paramedics who have received intensive training and <br /> are able to provide a higher level of service. This highly trained <br /> cadre would consist primarily of the County' s current professional <br /> paramedic staff. However, these positions and training would be <br /> offered as well to volunteer paramedics able to meet the time demands <br /> and training standards that will be placed on IRV paramedics . IRV <br /> paramedics would be dispatched in response to 911 calls for EMS. One <br /> paramedic would respond in an IRV and provide initial assessment of the <br /> patient at the scene. Depending on the condition of the patient, the <br /> IRV paramedic could: complete the call if the patient does not need or <br /> want treatment; provide treatment at the scene and release the patient, <br /> with advice to the patient of options (at the patient ' s discretion) of <br /> possible followup treatment; or call for ambulance service if medically <br /> indicated. In some cases, based on established protocols (e.g. <br /> indications of chest pain) , there would be simultaneous dispatch of <br /> IRV, first responder, and ambulance. The roles of first responders and <br /> telecommunicators trained in the procedures of emergency medical <br /> dispatch (EMD) would remain similar to their roles in the current <br /> system. <br /> The "Emergency Ambulance Service" component would be handled around the <br /> clock by the two rescue squads, with South Orange initially providing <br /> day-to-day management oversight of ambulance operations, but with an <br /> eye to the possible long-term merger of the two rescue squads . The <br /> Boards of Directors of both squads have voted to support this service <br /> 'delivery model, and to develop a joint task force to work out <br /> implementation details . South Orange would plan to hire, if necessary, <br /> temporary and/or permanent staff to provide ambulance coverage to <br /> augment volunteers, particularly during weekday daylight hours. <br /> We believe it is important to note the high level of support that the <br /> County' s professional paramedic staff have indicated for the Initial <br /> Response Vehicle program. They have noted high expectations that have <br /> been created during the six month pilot IRV program conducted between <br /> August 1995 and February 1996 . They believe that implementation of the <br /> IRV program (through the Response/Assessment/Treatment component) will <br /> allow top-notch, professional, high quality pre-hospital and out-of- <br /> hospital care. Some of the advantages they cite, based on experience <br /> during the pilot project, include : improved access of experienced <br />