DEPARTMENT: Fire
DEPARTMENT HEAD: Charles N. Hood
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: Citywide
SUBJECT:
New Interlocal Agreements between UT Health Science Center San Antonio and San Antonio Fire Department (SAFD) for EMT training and Emergency Medical Services (EMS) system oversight and also EMS Medical Director Services.
SUMMARY:
The City operates the Emergency Medical Services throughout the City of San Antonio and other municipalities. These two contracts with the UT Health San Antonio will meet the State mandated requirements to train emergency medical personnel and oversee the City’s Emergency Medical System.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
UT Health San Antonio 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 UT Health San Antonio will expire on September 30, 2016 and there are no renewal options.
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). 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 authorized 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 a critical component of the mission of the Fire Department.
The proposed agreements are for a period of three years with two, one year extensions.
The Medical Training agreement will increase from $1.267 million to $1.841 million annually. The increase of $573K can be attributed to the addition of the Bulverde Anatomy lab, and adding Initial Ed Faculty as well as some faculty salary increases. Additional monies for textbooks and equipment will also be added to SAFD’s operating budget to adequately address the training needs of the program.
The Medical Direction agreement will increase from $899K to $1.299 million. The increase of $399K can be attributed to the addition of two Emergency Physicians which will bring needed psychiatric and pediatric specialties to the program.
ISSUE:
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 UT Health San Antonio 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:
The City has no identified alternatives at this time.
FISCAL IMPACT:
An overall increase in SAFD’s operating budget of $1,256,726 has been proposed in the FY18 budget to account for all changes in the agreements.
RECOMMENDATION:
The staff recommends moving forward with the Interlocal Agreements with the University of Texas Health Science Center to provide the City with State-mandated EMS oversight and training to City Council on August 31.