Laserfiche WebLink
It should be noted that the additional responsibility for Sebastian <br />has been accomplished without the Fellsmere Division being adversely <br />affected. <br />Although the schedules reflect that the shifts were scheduled to be <br />covered as referenced above, there were shifts in which individ- <br />uals failed to appear for duty for various reasons. When this <br />occurred, efforts were made to locate an individual to pull the duty. <br />On some occasions individuals could not be located and the Sebastian <br />area would be covered by the Fellsmere Volunteer Ambulance Service <br />from Fellsmere as was approved by the Emergency Services Coordinating <br />Committee -on an interim basis until staffing could be improved. <br />The fleet currently being utilized at the Sebastian Volunteer Ambu- <br />lance Service is in need of improvement and steps are being taken to <br />correct this deficiency. Arrangements have been made with the <br />Town of Indian River Shores to purchase a 1980 Chevrolet modular type <br />ambulance with very low mileage which should be delivered prior to <br />August 1, 1988 to Fellsmere. Currently, the two vehicles being <br />utilized have high mileage and maintenance costs are extreme. This <br />problem was externally created due to the.fact that the former <br />Sebastian Volunteer Ambulance Squad Board of Directors had to sell a <br />relatively new modular unit being utilized by Sebastian since May 3, <br />1988, to satisfy a lien on the vehicle. A grant application for <br />matching funds from HRS has also been submitted to acquire an <br />additional vehicle for use by the service; <br />The financial status of the Fellsmere Volunteer Ambulance Service, <br />which includes the Sebastian Division appears to be solvent. The <br />Finance Director has actively sought and obtained substantial funding <br />since the additional responsibility for the Sebastian service was <br />assumed. Copies of the Treasurer's Report for both divisions as of <br />June 30, 1988 are attached and made a part of this report. <br />The Fellsmere Volunteer Ambulance Service is insured through the firm <br />of Burke, Bogart & Brownell, Inc., and is adequately insured under <br />policy number UL61050739A. A copy of the insurance policy is avail- <br />able for review in the Department of Emergency Management Services. <br />ALTERNATIVES AND ANALYSIS <br />Dr. Tom Moore, EMS Medical Director has expressed concern that the <br />coverage at the Sebastian location was falling below the standard for <br />quality assurance. He felt that this would result in a deterioration <br />in -the quality of care. He felt it was important for the staffing <br />problems to be resolved in a timely manner. He also described the <br />hospitals' willingness to provide funds to hire EMT's to fill the gaps <br />in shifts not fully staffed. <br />The other EMS BLS providers in the County recommended renewal of the <br />Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity for Fellsmere to con- <br />tinue.service in the North County area. They viewed the service as a <br />vital and necessary part of the overall EMS operation in the County. <br />Improvement in the operation of the North County EMS service was <br />alluded to by the service providers. <br />As referenced above, the issue of adequate staffing continues to <br />dominate as the major concern in the short and long term for both <br />divisions of the volunteer service. Additional requirements for EMT <br />certification mandated by HRS and in-service training have prompted <br />some EMT's to allow their certificates to lapse. The volunteer squads <br />continue to actively recruit new personnel for training and pay the <br />tuition for those who will commit to the in-depth training. <br />The Fellsmere Volunteer Ambulance Squad does not anticipate that they <br />will be able to staff the total twenty-eight shifts at the Sebastian <br />Division in the immediate future. Currently, staff utilized at the <br />Fellsmere location pull a significant amount of the shifts at the <br />AUG 16 1988 <br />19 BOOK 73 t' , 449 <br />L <br />