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1 <br /> ORANGE COUNTY <br /> BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br /> ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT <br /> Meeting Date: December 7, 2020 <br /> Action Agenda <br /> Item No. 8-j <br /> SUBJECT: First Reading: Emergency Services Franchise by Ordinance Priority Care <br /> Ambulance <br /> DEPARTMENT: Emergency Services <br /> ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT: <br /> • Priority Care Ambulance Franchise Dinah Jeffries, Emergency Services <br /> Agreement Director, (919) 245-6123 <br /> Kim Woodward, Emergency <br /> Medical Services EMS Operations <br /> Manager, (919) 245-6133 <br /> PURPOSE: To approve on First Reading the granting of a franchise by ordinance to Priority <br /> Care Ambulance Inc. (Priority Care) and the Franchise Agreement under which they will <br /> operate. <br /> BACKGROUND: On February 2, 2010, the Board held a Public Hearing to determine the need <br /> for supplemental ambulance services in accordance with NC Gen. Stat. § 153A-250(a). At that <br /> time, the Board made the determination that franchise ambulance services were necessary to <br /> assure the provision of adequate and continuing ambulance service. State law requires that the <br /> Board of County Commissioners grant franchise agreements through County ordinance. This <br /> ordinance is required to pass two readings in order to be granted. <br /> Orange County has historically granted franchise agreements for convalescent transport and <br /> emergency ambulance services and for rescue service. The convalescent transport ambulance <br /> services franchises are only used to provide non-emergency convalescent transport to medical <br /> facilities typically for the care and treatment of a resident's long term health needs. Franchisees <br /> may also provide surge capacity in a basic life support capacity during a widespread emergency <br /> that stresses the capacity of Orange County Emergency Medical Services. Orange County <br /> Emergency Services provides all other emergency response services for basic and advanced <br /> life support needs in the County. <br /> Emergency Services has reviewed the overall Emergency Services System in the County to <br /> confirm that franchise services continue to be necessary to assure the provision of adequate <br /> and continuing ambulance services and to preserve, protect, and promote the public health, <br /> safety and welfare. As a result, the Department is recommending the granting of a franchise <br /> agreement for Convalescent BLS ambulance transport service and one for rescue service. <br />