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ORANGE COUNTY <br />BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br />ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT <br />Meeting Date: June 24, 2008 <br />Action Agenda <br />Item No. ~°~{' ~" :~~~ <br />SUBJECT: EMS Medical Director Contract Renewal <br />DEPARTMENT: Emergency Services -EMS PUBLIC HEARING: (YIN) No <br />ATTACHMENT(S): <br />Contract <br />Designation of Medical Director <br />INFORMATION CONTACT: <br />Frank Monies De Oca, 245-3030 <br />Kim Woodward, 245-3030 <br />PURPOSE: To consider renewing a contract between Orange County and .the University of <br />North Carolina (UNC) Department of Emergency Medicine concerning the medical direction of <br />Orange County's Emergency Medical Services (EMS) program. <br />BACKGROUND: Orange County provides both Advanced and Basic Life Support (ALS & BLS) <br />EMS service. Under state regulations, a county providing service must function under the <br />medical supervision of a Medical Director. The County receives medical direction through the <br />UNC Department of Emergency Medicine and UNC Hospitals by Dr. Jane Brice and her <br />assistants. <br />The Medical Director's responsibilities include providing training, monitoring and protocols for <br />the emergency medical dispatch program at 9-1-1. The Medical Director performs quality <br />assurance reviews and approves telecommunicators for certification. <br />The Medical Director establishes the level of practice for the first responders and the training <br />requirements to operate automatic defibrillators and glucose monitoring checks. Each first <br />responder must be annually trained and tested in defibrillation. <br />The Medical Director determines the standard of care and appropriate treatment protocols for <br />the paramedics. The Medical Director provides training, skill proficiency and evaluation of <br />technician performance for the Initial Response Paramedics. <br />The contract with UNC also requires that the Medical Director have an appropriate number of <br />assistant medical directors to assure availability at all times. The Medical Director serves as a <br />consultant for the paramedics in the field for patient care issues. The Medical Director meets <br />weekly with EMS staff to provide consultation and review of medical issues. Performing the <br />duties of Medical Director requires Dr. Jane Brice to be replaced in her emergency department <br />