4/28/1998 - Laserfiche WebLink

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1. Identify and select an EMD Medical Director and members for Continuous Quality Improvement/Quality Assurance (CQI/QA). Notify all agencies involved with implementation. Notify the EMD vendor of the County's intent to implement an EMD program. Status: The Department of Emergency Services has a Medical Director (Dr. Roger Nicosia) under contract for advice and direction to the Emergency Medical Services Division. If Board approval is obtained, Dr. Nicosia has agreed to serve as the EMD Medical Director at no additional expense to the County. The EMS Division already has in place a Quality Assurance Program for EMS. The same Committee could be expanded and additional 9-1-1 management personnel from other agencies could be included. With Board approval, a Committee will be appointed. A meeting was held in Commission Chambers on March 10, 1998, for the purpose of notifying all agencies which would be involved with implementation. All in attendance agreed that the EMD Program should be implemented in the County. Staff has examined the potential vendors for EMD products and is now requesting that the APCO Institute be approved as a sole source vendor for the EMD Program. This recommendation is based on the ability to do in- house on-site training locally, cost of products, user friendly products, and overall cost. 2. Identify response configurations for the local fire and EMS system. Customize guidecards and transmit information to the selected EMD vendor. Status: The response configurations for Fire and EMS emergency responders already exist and are being updated as part of the prior approved CAD contract for the 9-1-1 system. If the sole source vendor is approved, the APCO guidecards have already been reviewed and will need very few revisions or changes before training can commence and implementation processes occur. 3. Develop CQI/QA procedures for employee evaluation and ensure a continuing education training program is established. Status: If approved by the Board, the CQI/QA procedures can easily be established with changes to the existing QA policies. A continuing education program will be determined with participation by all parties involved in the EMD Program. 4. Arrange, schedule and conduct all requisite and pre -EM training programs. Send personnel to the EMD Instructor Training Course if training will be provided locally. Status: Deputy EMS Chief Brian Burkeen attended the APCO Instructor Course in March and he is certified to teach and train all dispatchers to be Emergency Medical Dispatchers. The 9-1-1 management staff has been very cooperative in this endeavor and has arranged for the 27 dispatchers to be trained over a 30 day period. This training will create an overtime expense for the total of eight days of training (8 hours a day for 4 days each class spread over 4 weeks, including CPR). Training cannot commence until an EMD vendor is selected and the guidecards are customized and received so they can be used during the training course. April 28, 1998