Title
Approve and authorize the Emergency Medical Services Agency Director to submit the revised annual Monterey County EMS Plan for 2013 to the California State Emergency Medical Services Authority.
Report
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Board of Supervisors:
Approve and authorize the Emergency Medical Services Agency Director to submit the revised annual Monterey County EMS Plan for 2013 to the California State Emergency Medical Services Authority.
SUMMARY:
State law requires any county that establishes an Emergency Medical Services (EMS) program to develop a local EMS Plan and file it with the California EMS Authority. Monterey County's initial EMS Plan was filed with the State in 1984, under the State EMS System Standards and Guidelines in effect at that time. The Monterey County EMS Plan for 2013 is submitted for your Board's approval today represents the tenth comprehensive revision of the County's EMS Plan since the current State EMS System Standards and Guidelines were published in June of 1993. The last Monterey County EMS Plan (2012) was submitted and approved by the Board on June 25, 2013.
The EMS Plan for 2013 reflects updates to Table 2 - System Resources and Operations, specifically FY 13/14 budget and staffing information; Table 3- Personnel/Training, current EMS personnel certified and accredited with the EMS Agency and number of reviews performed; Table 8 - Resource Directory, showing 2013 responses and transports, and includes an updated Trauma System Status Report that reflects current (2014) activity.
DISCUSSION:
The Monterey County EMS Plan recommended for approval is fully consistent with State requirements with three (3) exceptions:
1) Trauma System Evaluation: Currently, no hospital has been designated as a trauma care center in Monterey County; nor is there a 'trauma registry.' Natividad Medical Center (Salinas) is in the process of being designated a Level-II Trauma Center; projected date for designating the local trauma care center is January 2015.
2) Agreements for Medical Mutual Aid: There is an effective and efficient over-arching Medical Mutual Aid program/process administered through the California EMS Authority and Emergency Management. Collaborative activities of the state, region, and Bay Area no longer require independent local mutual aid agreements with neighboring counties.
3) Designation and Establishment of Casualty Collection Points: Since Casualty Collection Points (CCPs) are not clearly defined and differentiated from Field Treatment Sites (FTSs) in State guidance; there is no local designation requirement. However, the Monterey County Health Department does plan for the use of Alternate Care Sites (ACSs) through the federal Public Health Emergency Preparedness grant; administered through the California Department of Public Health.
The County's EMS Plan is intended as a dynamic document and one that will continuously change as local needs are identified and appropriate response strategies are developed. The EMS Plan reflects the EMS Agency's priorities identified by the EMS Agency and Monterey County Emergency Medical Care Committee.
This work is in support of one or more of the ten essential public health services, specifically: Enforce laws and regulations that protect health and ensure safety; Link people to needed personal health services and assure the provision of health care when otherwise unavailable; and Evaluate effectiveness, accessibility, and quality of personal and population-based health services.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
The Monterey County EMS Plan has been reviewed and endorsed by the Emergency Medical Care Committee (EMCC), which was established by the Board of Supervisors to represent the interests of local EMS stakeholders, and to serve in an advisory capacity to both the Board and the Director of Health. The revised EMS Plan also satisfies California State law for the EMCC to annually report to the Board of Supervisors and the State EMS Authority.
FINANCING:
Development and revision of the Monterey County Monterey County Trauma Care System Plan was included in Fiscal Year 2014-15 Adopted Budget (4000- HEA010-8108).
Prepared by: Kirk Schmitt, EMS Director, 4964
Approved by: Ray Bullick, Director of Health, 4526
Attachments:
2013 EMS Plan is on file with the Clerk of the Board