DEPARTMENT: SAFD
DEPARTMENT HEAD: Charles N. Hood
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: City Wide
SUBJECT:
EMS Medical Direction, Control and Training Interlocal Agreements with UTHSCSA
SUMMARY:
A. An Ordinance authorizing an Interlocal Agreement with the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio (UTHSCSA) to provide the San Antonio Fire Department (SAFD) with Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) training and Emergency Medical Services (EMS) system oversight. If approved, the agreement would begin on January 1, 2016, and end on September 30, 2016. This Agreement may be extended by mutual agreement of the parties on the same terms and conditions, for up to one one-year renewal period. Costs for the agreement are $921,688 in FY 2016 and, if renewed, $1,267,648 in FY 2017.
B. An Ordinance authorizing an Interlocal Agreement with the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio (UTHSCSA) to provide the San Antonio Fire Department (SAFD) with Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Medical Director services. If approved, the agreement would begin on January 1, 2016, and end on September 30, 2016. This Agreement may be extended by mutual agreement of the parties on the same terms and conditions, for up to one one-year renewal period. Costs for the agreement are $652,231 in FY 2016 and, if renewed, $899,431 in FY 2017.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
UTHSCSA has provided the Fire Department with EMT Basic and Paramedic training, EMS Medical Director services and EMS system oversight for over 40 years and is the current service provider. The current Agreements with UTHSCSA were approved by City Council on June 20, 2013, by Ordinances #2013-06-20-0475/0476. These contracts were for two, two year periods, which expired on September 30, 2015 and were extended until December 31, 2015 via ordinance 2015-10-01-0844.
In order for the SAFD to provide emergency medical services, the State requires the City to have Medical Director Services, Emergency Medical Technician and Paramedic professional training that has been approved by the Texas Department of State Health Services in accordance with the Texas Administrative Code, and mandated continuing education for all levels of Emergency Medical Technicians (EMT) and Paramedics. The State requires the city to operate its EMS system under a State of Texas licensed physician. In addition, the City is required to have treatment and transport protocols approved and signed by the Medical Director.
The medical training and continuing education is provided to all members of the SAFD. The training and provision of emergency medical services is key to the mission of the Fire Department. This year to date, 80% of all calls responded to were medical in nature.
ISSUE:
The City operates the Emergency Medical Services throughout the City of San Antonio and other municipalities. These two contracts with the UTHSCSA will meet the State mandated requirements to train emergency medical personnel and oversee the City’s Emergency Medical System.
Failure to provide the Interlocal Agreements would impede State-mandated EMS Medical Direction and therefore the City of San Antonio could not provide Emergency Medical Services in total to its constituents. Additionally, EMT Basic and Paramedic initial and continuing education training currently provided by the UTHSCSA would cease, thereby, creating a deficit in the number of newly trained firefighters and paramedics, a reduction in the number of currently certified Basic EMTs and Paramedics, and the de-authorization of Paramedics and Basic EMTs to perform their patient care duties.
ALTERNATIVES:
There are no viable alternatives at this time.
FISCAL IMPACT:
A. An agreement in an amount not to exceed $921,688 in FY 2016 and, if renewed, $1,267,648 in FY 2017 for EMT training and Emergency Medical Services (EMS) system oversight. Funding for FY16 represents the last three quarters of FY16 while funding for FY17 is for an entire year. Additional funds previously paid to UTHSCSA will be used to offset the cost of the contract. Funding for this agreement has been included and appropriated by City Council in the FY 2016 Fire Department General Fund Budget and is contingent upon FY 2017 budget appropriations, if renewed.
B. An agreement in an amount not to exceed $652,231 in FY 2016 and, if renewed, $899,431 in FY 2017 for Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Medical Director services. Funding for FY16 represents the last three quarters of FY16 while funding for FY17 is for an entire year. Funding for this agreement has been included and appropriated by City Council in the FY 2016 Fire Department General Fund Budget and is contingent upon FY 2017 budget appropriations, if renewed.
RECOMMENDATION:
The staff recommends the approval of the one-year Interlocal Agreements with the University of Texas Health Science Center to provide the City with State-mandated EMS oversight and training.