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response system. This, therefore, is a great opportunity for the two groups to reach out and extend a very worthwhile service to the community. Mr. Guy went on to inform the Commission that the Hospital District Board of Trustees has embraced the ALS project and has approved funding in their budget on a net cost type of situation. He explained that there was some talk about the entire cost being budgeted the first year and any revenues would be used to offset taxes for the next year, but in the currently proposed situation, that is not the case - the net has been budgeted. There will be some fees, which they will try to collect, which hopefully will reduce the cost to the taxpayers substantially. A system such as this, however, cannot exist without taxpayer support; so, there will have to be a combination of taxes and fees. Mr. Guy stated that the Hospital is excited about the medical potential of ALS and will appreciate the Board's support of this program. He then introduced Dudley Teal, Medical Director of the Hospital's emergency services, who will be the Director of the ALS system as it comes to completion. Mr. Teal noted that ALS is the way to bring the emergency department into people's homes and out on the streets, and the great importance of this, especially in the case of heart attacks, cardiac arrest, and trauma, is in the saving of time. Mr. Teal described how the ALS people would be in direct communication with the physician in the emergency room. He reported that these systems have been instituted nationwide, and the only reason they ever have been terminated is lack of funding. Commissioner Bird asked if it is the intent to operate the ALS system on a countywide basis, and if so, what other facilities would be brought into play, i.e., would someone be stationed in Fellsmere or Sebastian, etc. Rick Lamb reported that the system is intended to be countywide, and at this point, they are anticipating three basic 37 AUG 4 Boos 61 Fa,,F'788