DATE: March 12, 2019
TO: Board of Supervisors
SUBMITTED BY: David Pomaville, Director, Department of Public Health
SUBJECT: Agreement with Air Methods
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
TITLE
Approve and authorize the Chairman to execute a revenue Agreement with Air Methods for emergency air ambulance services within the boundaries of Fresno County and use of the County’s communication system infrastructure, effective April 1, 2019, not to exceed five consecutive years, which includes a three-year base contract and two optional one-year extensions, total not to exceed $36,113.
REPORT
Approval of the recommended agreement will continue emergency air ambulance services throughout the County and adjacent areas with no cost to the County. The recommended agreement will allow the Department of Public Health to offset costs associated with the use of the County’s communications system infrastructure. This item is countywide.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION(S):
Should your Board not approve the recommended action, emergency air ambulance services would be provided through other contractors and/or agencies from another County, which may cause delays in critical incident response. Additionally, the Department would be unable to offset costs associated with the use of the County’s communications system infrastructure by the emergency air ambulance services contractor.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no increase in Net County Cost associated with the recommended action. The recommended agreement will provide $36,113 to offset Department costs associated with use of the County’s communications system infrastructure by Air Methods. Emergency air ambulance services are fully funded through a fee for services charged to ambulance users. Sufficient appropriations and estimated revenues are included in the Department’s Org 5620 FY 2018-19 Adopted Budget and will be included in future budget requests for the duration of the term.
DISCUSSION:
California Emergency Medical Services Authority regulations require the Department to execute contracts with Emergency Medical Services (EMS) providers operating within its jurisdiction. The Fresno County EMS Communications Center is a regional dispatch center responsible for the management and dispatch of all ambulance requests in Fresno, Kings, and Madera Counties.
Approval of the recommended agreement will provide continued emergency air ambulance services throughout Fresno County and the adjacent counties. Air Methods is the only provider of emergency air ambulance services in the area on a non-exclusive basis; therefore, does not restrict the County from contracting with other providers for the same or similar services.
Additionally, the proposed agreement will allow the Department to offset costs associated with use of the County’s communications system infrastructure by Air Methods to dispatch of its resources.
The proposed agreement contains staffing and response requirements including level of certified personnel, equipment requirements, and dispatch coordination. Air Methods will routinely respond, upon the request of the Fresno County EMS Services Communications Center, to adjacent areas to provide mutual aid assistance.
The recommended agreement may be terminated by either party upon a 90-day advanced notice and satisfies the requirement under Title 22 of the California Code of Regulations for a written agreement with advanced life support provider agencies.
REFERENCE MATERIAL:
BAI #37, March 28, 2017
ATTACHMENTS INCLUDED AND/OR ON FILE:
On file with Clerk - Agreement with Air Methods
CAO ANALYST:
Sonia M. De La Rosa