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December 9, 1995 <br /> The Future of Emergency Medical Services in Orange County <br /> The Emergency Medical Services Advisory Council has been reviewing the future of emergency medical service <br /> delivery in Orange County. Over the past few months, the Resource Subcommittee of this Council has <br /> discussed options for financing EMS service under several different service models. Options discussed thus far <br /> range from maintaining the current system with some minor changes all the way to complete privatization of the <br /> service. One particularly interesting area of consideration has been financing the initial treatment response to <br /> these calls with general tax revenues and either privatizing or billing for ambulance transports. The committee's <br /> goal is to recommend changes, if any,to the existing system that could be factored into the 1996-97 budget <br /> process. <br /> County staff have prepared the following outline to identify key issues in developing recommendations for <br /> service delivery and funding. The Subcommittee is interested in feedback from the Board of Commissioners, as <br /> the Board must ultimately make the policy decisions regarding these matters. Specifically, the Subcommittee is <br /> interested any preferences the Board may have, including issues identified below, which require particular <br /> attention by the Subcommittee, or options that the Board has no interest in pursuing. Depending on comments <br /> from the Board, the committee's tentative goal is to present recommendations to the EMS Council for their <br /> February meeting, with a report and recommendations on any policy changes to come back to the Board of <br /> Commissioners in Spring 1996. <br /> County staff will be available at the Commissioners' retreat to respond to Board members' requests for further <br /> information on any of the issues on the following list. <br /> Pilot Program <br /> In August 1995, the County undertook a pilot program involving the use of Quick Response Vehicles, or QRVs. <br /> Several days each week, the initial response to many 911 calls for EMS is handled by one paramedic driving an <br /> Advanced Life Support(ALS)equipped sedan. The paramedic assesses the patient at the scene and either: <br /> (1)treats and releases, (2)treats and advises the patient to seek follow up medical care, or(3)calls for an <br /> ambulance to transport the patient to a hospital. In accordance with established protocols, there is <br /> simultaneous dispatch of the QRV and ambulance based on reported indications (e.g., chest pain). <br /> Following the first three months of the program, a decision was made to expand and extend the pilot program <br /> through January to gather additional data. Indications from the first three months suggest that the staffing <br /> pattern is working well, patient satisfaction is at a high level, and overall patient outcomes have not been <br /> compromised. A more detailed report on the QRV program is planned for the first part of 1996. <br /> How will services be provided? <br /> Model 1 Emergency treatment responsibility of Orange County <br /> provided (24 hours per day, 7 days per <br /> week) by County employees and Rescue Squad <br /> members responding in County owned <br /> QRV's. <br /> Emergency transportation not the responsibility of Orange County. <br /> franchised to an outside party (similar to <br /> Johnston Ambulance)24 hours per day, 7 <br /> days per week <br />