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1 <br /> ORANGE COUNTY <br /> BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br /> Action Agenda <br /> ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT Item No IX_D <br /> Meeting Date: May 2, 1994 <br /> SUBJECT: EMS Franchise Application - Johnston Ambulance Service <br /> ----------------------------------------------------------------------- <br /> DEPARTMENT Emergency Management PUBLIC HEARING YES NO X <br /> -------------------------------- ------------------------------- <br /> ATTACHMENT(S) INFORMATION CONTACT <br /> Franchise Application Nick Waters, ext 3030 <br /> TELEPHONE NUMBER <br /> Hillsborough 732-8181 <br /> Chapel Hill 968-4501 <br /> Mebane 227-2031 <br /> Durham 688-7331 <br /> ----------------------------------------------------------------------- <br /> PURPOSE: To consider a franchise request from Johnston Ambulance <br /> Service, Inc. for the provision of convalescent only transports within <br /> Orange County in accordance with the provisions of the EMS franchise <br /> ordinance. <br /> BACKGROUND: In April 1993, the Board of Commissioners adopted an <br /> "Ordinance Regulating Emergency Medical, First Responder, and Rescue <br /> Service and Granting of Franchises and Contracts to the Operators in <br /> the County of Orange" . This ordinance updated and modernized the <br /> County' s ambulance and EMS regulations, and superseded the County' s <br /> 1981 EMS franchise ordinance. <br /> Johnston Ambulance Service, Inc. has asked to be franchised to provide <br /> convalescent only transports between locations in Orange County. They <br /> are not asking to be franchised for emergency transportation nor for <br /> any rescue services. EMS staff has reviewed the application and finds <br /> it to be in compliance with all the stipulations of the County' s <br /> franchise ordinance. The EMS Advisory Council discussed the <br /> application from Johnston Ambulance Service at its April 27 meeting and <br /> endorsed it by consensus. The proposed basic fee would be $85 per <br /> trip, plus $3 per mile traveled by the ambulance with the patient <br /> aboard. The County' s current fee is $60 plus $3 per patient loaded <br /> mile. <br /> Staff recommends that the Board also consider approval of a policy <br /> change that is directly tied to the franchise application from <br /> Johnston Ambulance Service - that Orange County discontinue providing <br /> convalescent transport service and turn this function over to private <br /> providers. At the present time, Orange County EMS provides <br /> convalescent transportation in addition to emergency response. Staff <br /> believes that a change to permit convalescent service being provided by <br /> private enterprise is a very positive development that will be <br /> beneficial to the county's Emergency Medical Services System. <br />