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ORANGE COUNTY <br />BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br />ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT <br />Meeting Date: June 26, 2003 <br />Action Agenda <br />Item No. <br />SUBJECT: Renewal of EMS Medical Director Contract <br />DEPARTMENT: Emergency Management-EMS PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No <br />ATTACHMENT(S): <br />Summary of Changes in Contract <br />Medical Director Contract <br />INFORMATION CONTACT: <br />Nick Waters„ ext 3030 <br />TELEPHONE NUMBERS: <br />Hillsborough <br />Chapel Hill <br />Durham <br />Mebane <br />732-8181 <br />968-4501 <br />688-7331 <br />336-227-2031 <br />PURPOSE: To consider renewing an agreement between Orange County and the UNC <br />Department of Emergency Medicine concerning medical direction of Orange County's <br />Emergency Medical Services (EMS) program. <br />BACKGROUND: Orange County provides both Advanced Life Support (ALS) and Basic Life <br />Support (BLS) EMS service. Under State regulations, a County providing that service must <br />function under the medical supervision of a Medical Director. The County receives medical <br />direction through the UNC Department of Emergency Medicine and UNC Hospitals by Dr. Jane <br />Brice and her 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 approved 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. Each first responder must be annually trained <br />and tested in defibrillation. <br />The Medical Director will assist in the training and evaluations of the new Basic Life Support <br />personnel (EMTs) of the EMS Transportation Section <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 agreement with the University also requires that the Medical Director have an appropriate <br />number of assistant medical directors to assure availability at all times. The Medical Director <br />