DATE: March 28, 2017
TO: Board of Supervisors
SUBMITTED BY: David Pomaville, Director, Department of Public Health
SUBJECT: Emergency Air Ambulance Services
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
TITLE
1. Approve termination of Agreement No. 14-347 with ROAM, dba SkyLife, effective April 1, 2017, due to sale of business.
2. Approve and authorize the Chairman to execute an Agreement with Air Methods Corporation, for the provision of emergency air ambulance services within the boundaries of Fresno County, effective April 1, 2017 through March 31, 2019 ($0).
REPORT
Approval of the recommended actions will terminate the existing contract with ROAM, dba SkyLife due to sale to Air Methods Corporation (Air Methods), allowing the County to enter into a new agreement with Air Methods for emergency air ambulance services, effective April 1, 2017. Fees for service are charged to the users and are determined by the service provider, with no cost to the County.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION(S):
Should your Board not approve the recommended actions, air ambulance services would be provided through other providers and/or an agency in another County, which may cause delays in critical incident response.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no cost associated with the recommended actions. The proposed services by Air Methods are fully funded through a fee for services charged to ambulance users.
DISCUSSION:
On June 17, 2014, your Board approved Agreement No. 14-347 with SkyLife for the provision of air ambulance services throughout the County. SkyLife also responds to incidents occurring in Kings, Madera and Tulare Counties when determined to be the closest air ambulance to an incident. On May 24, 2016, your Board approved Amendment I to Agreement No. 14-34, a two-year renewal, for the same services through June 30, 2018.
SkyLife is a general partnership composed solely of American Ambulance and Rogers Helicopters, which has been operating SkyLife since 1991. The partnership has provided medical helicopter service throughout all of Central California, with its primary service area being Fresno, Kings, Madera and Tulare Counties.
The following lists the response and transport totals provided by SkyLife in 2016:
• Response 2,346
• Patient Transport 1,001
On November 18, 2016, the Department of Public Health Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Division received notification of American Ambulance’s intent to sell SkyLife to Air Methods. Air Methods is a nationwide service based out of Englewood, Colorado, whose operations expand from Alaska to Florida, with more than 300 bases of operation that serve 48 states. Air Methods has nearly 20 operations in California, the closest base of operation is in Merced County.
As part of the sale transaction between Air Methods and SkyLife, SkyLife’s helicopters, real property and equipment will become the property of Air Methods. For a period, Air Methods will contract with American Ambulance for flight nurse and flight paramedic personnel services.
With your Board’s approval, the agreement with SkyLife will be terminated effective April 1, 2017 and the agreement with Air Methods will begin. Air Methods will provide air ambulance services throughout the County and adjacent counties on a non-exclusive basis, without restricting the County’s ability to contract with other providers for the same or similar services in these areas. The proposed agreement contains staffing and response requirements, including the level of certified personnel, equipment requirements and dispatch coordination. Air Methods will respond, upon the request of the County EMS Communications Center, to other counties throughout Central California to provide mutual aid assistance.
Approval of the recommended actions will terminate the agreement with SkyLife and begin the service agreement with Air Methods, effective April 1, 2017 through March 31, 2019. The recommended agreement satisfies the requirement under Title 22 of the California Code of Regulations for a written agreement with advanced life support provider agencies and may be terminated by either party with a 90-day advance notice.
REFERENCE MATERIAL:
BAI #51, May 24, 2016, Amendment I to Agt. No. 14-347
BAI #50, June 17, 2014, Agt. No. 14-347
ATTACHMENTS INCLUDED AND/OR ON FILE:
On file with Clerk - Agreement with Air Methods Corporation
CAO ANALYST:
Sonia De La Rosa