DATE: May 26, 2020
TO: Board of Supervisors
SUBMITTED BY: David Pomaville, Director, Department of Public Health
SUBJECT: Revenue Agreement with State of California Emergency Medical Services Authority (EMSA) for designation of the Fresno County Emergency Medical Services as the Regional Transfer Center for Ambulance Transports to Alternate Care Sites
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
TITLE
Approve and authorize the Chairman to execute a retroactive revenue Agreement with State of California Emergency Medical Services Authority, for designation of the Fresno County Emergency Medical Services as the Regional Transfer Center for Ambulance Transports to Alternate Care Sites, effective April 14, 2020 through June 30, 2020 ($150,000).
REPORT
Approval of the recommended action will allow the Fresno County EMS Communications Center to function as the State designated regional transfer center to coordinate and direct ambulances transporting patients from local hospitals to the designated Alternate Care Sites within Fresno, Kings, Madera, and Tulare Counties. The revenue received will offset County costs, with no increase in Net County Cost. This item is county-wide.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION(S):
There are no viable alternative actions. Should your Board not approve the recommended action, the State EMSA would designate another dispatch center in the State to operate as the designated transfer center for Fresno, Kings, Madera, and Tulare Counties.
RETROACTIVE AGREEMENT:
The agreement is retroactive to April 14, 2020, due to the urgency of the State to implement the patient transfer system throughout the State. The Agreement was received from the State on April 20, 2020.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no Net County Cost associated with the recommended actions. Under the terms of the proposed Agreement, the State EMS Authority will provide a flat rate of $2,500 for the establishment of the transfer center, which includes the approval of this proposed revenue Agreement and implementation of policies and procedures at the dispatch center. In the event that an alternate care site is activated for use in any of the 4 counties, the State EMS Authority shall pay Fresno County $1,500 for each 24 hour period of operation to reimburse the costs of operations to Fresno County and dispatch staffing costs for American Ambulance. The maximum amount of the recommended revenue agreement is $150,000. Sufficient appropriations and estimated revenues are included in the FY 2019-20 Department of Public Health Org 5620 Adopted Budget. This retroactive Agreement has no current pending invoices.
DISCUSSION:
In response to the COVID-19 event in California, the State EMS Authority has designated several dispatch centers throughout the State, including the Fresno County’s EMS Communications Center, as regional transfer centers with the responsibility to coordinate the transport of patients to the alternate care sites that have been implemented in all 58 counties. The recommended revenue agreement will allow the Fresno County EMS Communications Center to function as the State designated regional transfer center and to coordinate and direct ambulances transporting patients from local hospitals to the designated alternate care sites within Fresno, Kings, Madera, and Tulare Counties.
ATTACHMENTS INCLUDED AND/OR ON FILE:
On File with Clerk - Agreement with EMSA
CAO ANALYST:
Raul Guerra