Bulletin #4: April 4, 2011
The Santa Clara County EMS Agency will issue routine Information Bulletins, at least monthly, to help ensure that Santa Clara County EMS System Stakeholders are updated as to the progress of the implementation of the new 911 Emergency Ambulance Contract which becomes effective on July 1, 2011.
• Rural/Metro has finalized the labor agreement with the National Emergency Medical Services Association (NEMSA). All incumbent personnel have been offered the same or better wages and benefits. The agreement is available on the Santa Clara County Rural/Metro website.
• The Santa Clara County Rural/Metro website is now on-line at http://www.ruralmetrosantaclara.com/
• Job fairs have been scheduled for April 19, 20, and 21 in Santa Clara. Incumbent personnel will be able to meet with Rural/Metro Human Resources managers and complete employment paperwork and pre-hire processing. Rural/Metro managers will also be on site to answer any questions from the incumbent workforce.
• Several rounds of EMS Field Supervisor interviews have been completed. The EMS Agency and Santa Clara County Fire Chiefs Association have been participating on the interview panels. Final selection should occur by May 1, 2011.
• Travis Kusman has been hired as the General Manager for the Santa Clara County Rural/Metro Operation. He begins service in the County on April 11, 2011.
• A total of 15 ambulances have arrived, which includes 2 bariatric ambulances. Rural/Metro expects a total of at least 30 by mid to late April.
• Six of nine EMS Supervisor Vehicles have arrived.
• The fleet truck has arrived and one disaster truck is in route.
• Call data/deployment servers are in the process of being installed.
• All radio equipment has arrived and is awaiting programming.
• Rural/Metro has moved into their headquarters facility in the City of San Jose near Freeway 880 and 101. Tenant improvements continue.
• The EMS Provider Agreement Workgroup (development of County/fire department EMS agreements) has been transitioned into an Implementation Workgroup focusing on the operational details of the transition from Rural/Metro to AMR on July 1, 2011.
• The Health and Hospital Committee of the Board of Supervisors will receive an implementation update at their April 13, 2011 meeting.
• Rural/Metro and AMR continue to meet to discuss various transition activities.
• The EMS Agency will hold the second of four field provider (EMTs, paramedics, and EMS field supervisors) “Town Hall” meetings on May 17th to address questions related to the Rural/Metro transition.
• The EMS Agency and Rural/Metro meet weekly (or via conference call) to coordinate implementation. Fire department providers and County Communications may also attend in person or via conference call.
• The first formal “Transition Team” meeting was held in February consisting of members from the EMS Agency, AMR, Rural/Metro, Santa Clara County Fire Chiefs Association, and County Communications. This group will be most involved in the development of the actual transition plan from AMR to Rural/Metro on June 30/July 1.
• The Tap Chart Patient Care Reporting System has been presented to the hospitals and will be presented to the specialty centers in April. This system enables the transmission of patient care data, including 12-Lead EKG/ECG, from the field to the hospital.
• Rural/Metro has completed meetings with all fire departments to discuss station housing and other services for hire/exchange. Final section of ambulance housing locations is scheduled to occur by the end of April.
• Rural/Metro continues to establish agreements with local vendors for services such as fleet services, furniture, facility maintenance, etc.
• The County has received the required $5 million dollar performance security bond from Rural/Metro.
• EMS Communications System modifications are in progress including radio channel assignments, vehicle location programs, system status management software installation, surveillance technologies, etc.
• The “lockbox” (ability to view Rural/Metro accounts and County emergency take -over provisions) is in the final stages of implementation. Estimated completion by mid April.
• The EMS Agency and Rural/Metro will present a summary of the new 911 agreement to the Hospital Council and South Bay Emergency Medical Directors Association.
• FirstWatch electronic data reporting system installation is progressing. “Dashboard” will enable hospitals to view pending ambulance arrivals and chief complaint, identify illness/injury trends, and assist in assessment of response time performance reporting.
Contact Information:
John Blain
EMS Specialist/
Contract Implementation Manager
John.Blain@phd.sccgov.org
408.885.4250
About Us
- Santa Clara County EMS Agency
- Santa Clara County, California, United States
- The Santa Clara County EMS Agency is charged with the oversight and regulation of the delivery of emergency medical services within the County. The EMS Agency is responsible for developing and coordinating an integrated emergency medical care delivery system, which is composed of education agencies, hospitals and specialty care facilities. Responsibilities include system planning, training program approval, provider and hospital designation, the establishment of appropriate medical, operations, and quality standards, monitoring and facilitating compliance, and the certification, authorization, and accreditation of personnel. The EMS Agency is also responsible for disaster medical-health planning and response. This includes multiple patient management, emergency public health operations, and medical-health mutual aid coordination.