Saturday, May 12, 2012

Non-911 Ambulance RFP Released

On May 11, 2012; the County released a Request for Proposals (RFP) entitled “Non-Emergency Transportation (#PRO-FY12-0256)”. This RFP is for non-911 ambulance and non-ambulance transportation services required by the County. The typical users are the County Health and Hospital System departments such as custody health, Valley Medical Center, Mental Health, Social Services, etc.


This RFP process is not managed by the EMS Agency, nor does it directly impact 911 EMS operations. This solicitation has no tie to the contract between the County and Rural/Metro for the provision of 911 Paramedic and Emergency Ambulance Transportation. The intention of this memorandum is to provide information to those EMS partners who may wish to participate in this RFP opportunity.

The current contract ends on December 31, 2012.

The County of Santa Clara provides suppliers the opportunity to register to view and download open solicitations through our online electronic bid management system called BidSync. There is no charge to register for or to use our system. For information on how to register for BidSync, visit Vendor Registration. If you have trouble accessing the link through the hyperlink provided; please go to www.sccgov.org and then select “Doing Business with the County”.

Questions related to this solicitation must be directed to the County Procurement Officer assigned within the RFP. Thank you for your continued support of our Emergency Medical Services System.

Sunday, April 8, 2012

Anticipated Hiring Notice: EMS SPECIALIST (Santa Clara County, CA)

Anticipated Hiring Notice
The Santa Clara County EMS Agency anticipates the release of an open recruitment for the following position in the near future. Those interested should submit an electronic job interest card by viewing the "Job Specification" for an Emergency Medical Services Specialist (S09) at www.sccgov.org. In addition to email notifications for those who have completed job interest cards, open recruitment notices will be posted to the County (www.sccgov.org) and EMS Agency (www.sccemsagency.org) websites.

EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES SPECIALIST

SALARY RANGE

$39.44 - $47.94 Hourly
$3,155.20 - $3,835.20 Biweekly
$6,836.27 - $8,309.60 Monthly
$82,035.20 - $99,715.20 Annually

DEFINITION:
Under direction, to plan, organize, coordinate, direct, and monitor the County’s emergency medical services system in order to establish and ensure compliance with the County's protocols, guidelines and contracts for operation of the emergency medical services system and its components.

THE CURRENT VACANCY:
The Emergency Medical Services Specialist may be assigned to various areas of responsibility throughout the term of employment. The EMS Specialist hired for the current vacancy will initially serve as the Training and Exercise Coordinator. Responsibilities include the coordination of all training and exercise programs in the Santa Clara County EMS System, coordination of State Homeland Security Grant Funded opportunities, approval and monitoring of emergency medical services education and training programs, automatic external defibrillator program, and other duties identified in this job specification. This position will serve as an EMS Duty Chief. Paramedic licensure is preferred, but is not required for this recruitment.

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS:
The Emergency Medical Services Specialist oversees one or more of the Emergency Medical Services Systems, including the prehospital systems. Specific assignments, and the range of duties performed within that assignment vary depending on the type of experience and licensure or certification required. The Emergency Medical Services Specialist is distinguished from the higher level of Senior Emergency Medical Specialist in that the Senior Emergency Medical Specialist has overall program management responsibility and supervises subordinate professional staff.

TYPICAL TASKS:
(Depending upon area of assignment)

• Coordinates assigned emergency medical services program activities including planning, prioritizing, monitoring and participating in the agency-wide program meetings regarding program activities;

• Oversees and/or participates in the development, implementation and maintenance of program goals, objectives, policies and procedures to ensure achievement of program goals;
• Monitors activities and evaluates performance of emergency medical services providers, including EMTs, paramedics, Emergency Medical Dispatchers, Mobile Intensive Care Nurses, EMS Flight crew personnel and other prehospital care providers and equipment identified in the California Health and Safety Code;

• When assigned as Duty Chief, ensures activation and function of entire EMS system and coordination with other County and outside emergency agencies in response to critical incidents or disasters; including maintenance and operation of a Code-3 equipped vehicle;

• Provides administrative and technical direction to assigned program services staff to ensure compliance with various reporting requirements;

• Analyzes program services and evaluates changes and development of assigned health care program needs;

• Researches and applies for program funding sources, such as grants and donations; administers grants to ensure compliance with regulations;

• May prepare and administer annual budget for one or more assigned programs and monitors expenditures;

• Coordinates program activities with agencies, service providers and non-profit services;

• Provides staff assistance and technical support for assigned program activities to other County departments and special interest commissions and committees;

• Conducts organizational and operational service delivery studies and makes recommendations to address and resolve identified service delivery issues;

• Assists hospitals and private and public safety agencies in planning, implementing and maintaining prehospital emergency care programs;

• Establishes comprehensive stakeholder relationships and, assists and advises field and hospital emergency care personnel, communication personnel, medical-health professionals, community-based organizations and the public on matters pertaining to emergency medical service;

• Develops and coordinates the EMS component of disaster medical response and mass casualty incident plans and assists in the development of public health disaster response plans and procedures;

• Responds to, coordinates and manages disaster medical and mass casualty incidents;

• Investigates complaints of suspected violations of emergency medical care standards, policies and protocols, the County’s health and welfare codes and State health and safety codes;

• Makes routine and unannounced inspections of EMS providers, including ambulance providers, paramedic units, base hospitals and trauma hospitals;

• Monitors emergency medical service delivery to ensure medical appropriateness and continuity of patient care;

• Provides regulatory oversight and general assistance to and monitors educational institutions involved in training of emergency prehospital care personnel;
• Participates in organizational and community meetings as necessary;
• Stays current on issues relative to assigned programs and services; responds to and resolves community and organizational inquiries and complaints;

• Establishes effective working relationships with representatives of community organizations, state/local agencies, management and staff, clients and the public;

• Uses specialized software and equipment including electronic emergency management programs and electronic hospital and disaster management systems, electronic patient tracking system, portable and mobile radios, satellite telephones wireless applications and emergency towing vehicle;

• Performs related work as required.

EMPLOYMENT STANDARDS:
Sufficient education, training, and work experience to demonstrate possession of the knowledge and abilities listed below.

A valid California Class C Driver's License and one of the following:

A valid license to practice as a Registered Nurse in California;

OR

A valid license to practice as a paramedic in California;

OR

A valid certificate to practice as an Emergency Medical Technician in California.

Experience Note:
The knowledge and abilities are normally acquired through training and experience equivalent to possession of a Bachelor’s degree in Health Care Administration, Nursing, Public Administration or a related field and three (3) years of increasingly responsible emergency medical services experience. A Master’s degree in one of the disciplines listed above may be substituted for one (1) year of health care experience.

Those not holding a Bachelor's or Master's degree must demonstrate greater than 3 years of field experience for consideration of equivalency. "Increasingly responsible emergency medical services experience" refers to management or supervisory experience. Typical examples include service as an EMS field supervisor, manager; coordinator of special services such as clinical care, special operations, etc. Progression from an emergency medical technician to paramedic, field training officers, participation in committees and labor organizations do not typically meet this requirement. Applicants must clearly demonstrate experience that matches the knowledge and abilities section of the job specification.

Special Qualifications for Duty Chief
Must complete Emergency Vehicle Operators/Operations Course (EVOC) within six (6) months of hire; while on Duty Chief assignment must respond to an emergency call within (10) minutes by phone or radio and must be within forty-five (45) minutes of Santa Clara County.

Knowledge of:

• Principles, and practices of prehospital care system management relating to one or more specialized service delivery programs;

• Health care organizational structure and program components;

• Principles and practices of program administration including budgeting, marketing, purchasing, management and program needs forecasting;

• Current legislation and trends affecting health care providers for assigned program areas;

• Program development and evaluation methods and report writing procedures;

• Medical terminology;

• Basic principles, practices and methods of training and evaluation;

• Basic statistical and research methods;

• Basic knowledge of investigative methods and disciplinary processes used within the EMS System.

Ability to:
• Coordinate the activities of a large program or multiple program components;

• Direct the work of others performing service delivery in assigned health care specialty areas;

• Coordinate the assigned health care programs with other health care agencies;

• Formulate, gather, analyze and present financial, informational and statistical data;

• Integrate the activities of a program to attain program goals;

• Analyze, interpret and explain program policies and procedures;

• Elicit community and organizational support for programs;

• Represent the County on assigned committees and with service providers;

• Understand, apply and implement Federal, State and County codes, ordinances, regulations and approved standards and guidelines for prehospital emergency care;

• Apply the tools of a specialty subject area as appropriate;

• Instruct individuals and groups in prehospital emergency care;

• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with the public, various agencies and other County employees;

• Communicate clearly and effectively, both orally and in writing, sometimes under highly stressful conditions.

Wednesday, February 1, 2012

New protocol for Santa Clara County Paramedics will help save lives

Audio Version from KGO:  KGO Audio News Story - Click Here

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE


February 1, 2012

Media Contact:
Amy Cornell, Health Information Officer
Santa Clara County Public Health Department
Office: (408) 792-5155
Amy.Cornell@phd.sccgov.org

SANTA CLARA COUNTY, CA. Paramedics in Santa Clara County will soon be using a potentially life-saving new treatment protocol that will help people who have suffered heart attacks by reducing damage to patients’ brains. The new protocol, effective February 2, 2012, will use therapeutic cooling, which is a way of cooling the body from the inside out to help protect brain cells from dying. Brain cell death can cause serious neurologic injury, or even death.

“Clinically induced hypothermia can improve the neurologic outcome of unconscious patients following sudden cardiac arrest,” said Dr. Eric Rudnick, MD, Santa Clara County Emergency Medical Services System Medical Director. “Normal body temperature is 98.6, and this treatment cools the body to 90 to 93 degrees to stop cell death.” The process helps prevent such damage, and it helps the patient's brain heal and recover from the lack of oxygen.

Paramedics have been receiving County-mandated training in the new protocol since September. “This new treatment, and others that are being implemented in Santa Clara County, will simply save lives and allow our paramedics to provide better patient care,” said Michael Petrie, Director of the Santa Clara County EMS System.

###

Wednesday, December 21, 2011

EMS Agency Personnel Additions

The Santa Clara County EMS Agency is pleased to announce the hire of two full-time Emergency Medical Services Specialists and one contractor.


Joe Williams
EMS Specialist
Clinical Quality Management
With over twelve years of experience in both urban and rural EMS; Joe has served as a paramedic in Illinois, Michigan, and California. He has worked as a paramedic in Santa Clara County for eight years and most recently held the position of Clinical Coordinator at Rural/Metro. In this position he was responsible for clinical QA/QI as well as the implementation of an electronic patient care reporting system. In his off time he enjoys running and spending time with his family. Joe begins his service with the EMS Agency on January 9, 2012.

John Montes
EMS Specialist
CMTF/Homeland Security
John joins the EMS Agency after spending the last eight years in the Boston Emergency Medical Services System including Boston University EMS as an educator and Boston EMS as a 911 service provider. His experience includes 911 field service, communications center coordination, and special event planning and operations. He graduated from Northeastern University in 2003 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Health Sciences. John begins his service with the EMS Agency on January 23, 2012.

Mark Frise
Contractor
Allied Healthcare Facilities Work Group Coordinator
The EMS Agency is fortunate to have Mark return and continue work with the Allied Healthcare Facilities Work Group (AHFWG). After thirty years of service, he retired as a lieutenant from the Sunnyvale Department of Public Safety in 2007. During his time with Sunnyvale he served as a police and fire officer, managed the Office of Emergency Services, and coordinated various community outreach and education programs. Mark will return to the EMS Agency in January.

Friday, October 21, 2011

EMS Specialist - Open Recruitment (2 Positions)

EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES

SPECIALIST

$39.45 - $47.94 Hourly
$3,156.04 - $3,835.33 Biweekly
$6,838.09 - $8,309.89 Monthly
$82,057.08 - $99,718.68 Annually

FINAL FILING DATE: Fri. 11/04/11 11:59 PM Pacific Time

DEFINITION:

Under direction, to plan, organize, coordinate, direct, and monitor the County’s emergency medical services system in order to establish and ensure compliance with the County's protocols, guidelines and contracts for operation of the emergency medical services system and its components. Two Positions Are Currently Vacant:

EMS Specialist: Clinical Quality Management
This position is responsible for the coordination of Santa Clara County Emergency Medical Services System Clinical Quality Assurance and Improvement activities, the County Emergency Medical Services Quality Improvement Plan (EQIP), coordination of clinical protocols and prehospital care reviews, serve as the primary staff to the EMS Medical Director, conduct related training, coordinate clinically focused initiatives, projects, and other duties consistent with the components contained in this announcement. Serves as an EMS Duty Chief.

EMS Specialist: Disaster/Homeland Security
This position is responsible for the coordination of Santa Clara County Emergency Medical Services System disaster preparedness projects, oversight of the Medical Volunteers for Disaster Response program, serves as the EMS Multi-Jurisdictional/Multi-Disciplinary Task Force (CMTF) Coordinator, and other related duties. Serves as an EMS Duty Chief.

Information about the Santa Clara County EMS Agency and the Santa Clara County EMS System may be found at www.sccemsagency.org

This recruitment requires the submission of an online application. No paper applications will be accepted. Applicants must apply online at www.sccjobs.org. Computers are available at the County Government Center, 70 West Hedding Street, 8th Floor, East Wing, San Jose, CA 95110, during normal business hours, for applicants to apply online.

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS:

The Emergency Medical Services Specialist oversees one or more of the Emergency Medical Services Systems, including the prehospital systems. Specific assignments, and the range of duties performed within that assignment vary depending on the type of experience and licensure or certification required.

The Emergency Medical Services Specialist is distinguished from the higher level of Senior Emergency Medical Specialist in that the Senior Emergency Medical Specialist has overall program management responsibility and supervises subordinate professional staff.

TYPICAL TASKS:

(Depending upon area of assignment)

• Coordinates assigned emergency medical services program activities including planning, prioritizing, monitoring and participating in the agency-wide program meetings regarding program activities;

• Oversees and/or participates in the development, implementation and maintenance of program goals, objectives, policies and procedures to ensure achievement of program goals;

• Monitors activities and evaluates performance of emergency medical services providers,

• including EMTs, paramedics, Emergency Medical Dispatchers, Mobile Intensive Care Nurses, EMS Flight crew personnel and other prehospital care providers and equipment identified in the California Health and Safety Code;

• When assigned as Duty Chief, ensures activation and function of entire EMS system and coordination with other County and outside emergency agencies in response to critical incidents or disasters; including maintenance and operation of a Code-3 equipped vehicle;

• Provides administrative and technical direction to assigned program services staff to ensure compliance with various reporting requirements;

• Analyzes program services and evaluates changes and development of assigned health care program needs;

• Researches and applies for program funding sources, such as grants and donations; administers grants to ensure compliance with regulations;

• May prepare and administer annual budget for one or more assigned programs and monitors expenditures;

• Coordinates program activities with agencies, service providers and non-profit services;

• Provides staff assistance and technical support for assigned program activities to other County departments and special interest commissions and committees;

• Conducts organizational and operational service delivery studies and makes recommendations to address and resolve identified service delivery issues;

• Assists hospitals and private and public safety agencies in planning, implementing and maintaining prehospital emergency care programs;

• Establishes comprehensive stakeholder relationships and, assists and advises field and hospital emergency care personnel, communication personnel, medical-health professionals, community-based organizations and the public on matters pertaining to emergency medical service;

• Develops and coordinates the EMS component of disaster medical response and mass casualty incident plans and assists in the development of public health disaster response plans and procedures;

• Responds to, coordinates and manages disaster medical and mass casualty incidents;

• Investigates complaints of suspected violations of emergency medical care standards, policies and protocols, the County’s health and welfare codes and State health and safety codes;

• Makes routine and unannounced inspections of EMS providers, including ambulance providers, paramedic units, base hospitals and trauma hospitals;

• Monitors emergency medical service delivery to ensure medical appropriateness and continuity of patient care;

• Provides regulatory oversight and general assistance to and monitors educational institutions involved in training of emergency prehospital care personnel;

• Participates in organizational and community meetings as necessary;

• Stays current on issues relative to assigned programs and services; responds to and resolves community and organizational inquiries and complaints;

• Establishes effective working relationships with representatives of community organizations, state/local agencies, management and staff, clients and the public;

• Uses specialized software and equipment including electronic emergency management programs and electronic hospital and disaster management systems, electronic patient tracking system, portable and mobile radios, satellite telephones wireless applications and emergency towing vehicle;

• Performs related work as required.

EMPLOYMENT STANDARDS:

Sufficient education, training, and work experience to demonstrate possession of the knowledge and abilities listed below.

A valid California Class C Driver's License and one of the following:

A valid license to practice as a Registered Nurse in California; OR

A valid license to practice as a paramedic in California; OR

A valid certificate to practice as an Emergency Medical Technician in California.

Experience Note:

The knowledge and abilities are normally acquired through training and experience equivalent to possession of a Bachelor’s degree in Health Care Administration, Nursing, Public Administration or a related field and three (3) years of increasingly responsible emergency medical services experience. A Master’s degree in one of the disciplines listed above may be substituted for one (1) year of health care experience.

Applicants without a degree should detail additional years of work experience that may be considered.

Special Qualifications for Duty Chief

Must complete Emergency Vehicle Operators/Operations Course (EVOC) within six (6) months of hire; while on Duty Chief assignment must respond to an emergency call within (10) minutes by phone or radio and must be within forty-five (45) minutes of Santa Clara County.

Knowledge of:

• Principles, and practices of prehospital care system management relating to one or more specialized service delivery programs;

• Health care organizational structure and program components;

• Principles and practices of program administration including budgeting, marketing, purchasing, management and program needs forecasting;

• Current legislation and trends affecting health care providers for assigned program areas;

• Program development and evaluation methods and report writing procedures;

• Medical terminology;

• Basic principles, practices and methods of training and evaluation;

• Basic statistical and research methods;

• Basic knowledge of investigative methods and disciplinary processes used within the EMS System.

Ability to:

• Coordinate the activities of a large program or multiple program components;

• Direct the work of others performing service delivery in assigned health care specialty areas;

• Coordinate the assigned health care programs with other health care agencies;

• Formulate, gather, analyze and present financial, informational and statistical data;

• Integrate the activities of a program to attain program goals;

• Analyze, interpret and explain program policies and procedures;

• Elicit community and organizational support for programs;

• Represent SCVHHS on assigned committees and with service providers;

• Understand, apply and implement Federal, State and County codes, ordinances, regulations and approved standards and guidelines for prehospital emergency care;

• Apply the tools of a specialty subject area as appropriate;

• Instruct individuals and groups in prehospital emergency care;

• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with the public, various agencies and other County employees;

• Communicate clearly and effectively, both orally and in writing, sometimes under highly stressful conditions.

Monday, July 25, 2011

Special Session: Medical Control Advisory Committee Meeting

July 25, 2011


To:                Santa Clara County EMS System Stakeholders

From:            Josh Davies
                      Section Manager

Subject:         Special Session: Medical Control Advisory Committee Meeting

A special session of the Medical Control Advisory Committee has been scheduled for August 25, 2011 from 0830 -1200 hours at the San Jose Fire Department, 255 South Montgomery Avenue, San Jose.

The two items on this agenda are the review of proposed clinical care policy changes and a comprehensive review of proposed Clinical Performance and Quality Assurance Indicator EQIP requirements that will become effective October 1, 2011. Dr. Rudnick will review each proposed clinical protocol change and then he and I will walk through each Clinical Performance Indicator and Quality Assurance Indicator.

The EMS Agency requests that in addition to the department/company clinical and quality improvement staff and medical advisors, the Paramedic/BLS Coordinator (or representative responsible for financial and operational commitments for the organization) is present. This review will address timelines, expectations, and finance issues.

As a point of clarification, the routine Medical Control Advisory Committee Meeting will occur as identified on the Emergency Medical Services Stakeholder Meeting Schedule 201, on September 22 and December 15, 2011 from 1000-1200 hours at the Santa Clara Fire Department Training Center (1900 Walsh Avenue, Santa Clara). Please note that the meeting does not start at 0900 hours. The Standard Agenda for this meeting is as follows:

• EMS Medical Directors Report
• Specialty Care Programs Update
• Clinical EMS Quality Improvement Plan Updates
• Medical Control Review
• EMS Best Practices

The detailed agenda for this meeting will be sent by August 22, 2011.

In follow-up to the Medical Control Advisory Meeting that was held on June 23, 2011; the following updates are provided.

• Policy 302 Minimum EMS Asset Inventory Requirements will be posted for public comment by August 5, 2011 for a 30 day period.

• Proposed clinical care protocol changes will be posted for public comment today for a 30 day period.

• The EMS Agency will not be taking any action on proposed changes to the formatting/design of the clinical protocol “field guide” at this time. Dr. Rudnick is in the process of review and will provide next steps for providing feedback to the Medical Control Advisory Group in the fall.

• Updates to department/company EMS Quality Improvement Plans (EQIP) are due July 29, 2011 to Bob Cascone.

Thank you for your time and continued support of the Santa Clara County EMS System. If you should have any questions and to RSVP for this Special Session (by August 18, 2011) please contact Bob Cascone (bob.cascone@phd.sccgov.org).