Special Notice / Hearing: None__
Vote Required: Majority
To: Honorable Board of Supervisors
From: Louise F. Rogers, Chief, San Mateo County Health
Travis Kusman, Director, Emergency Medical Services
Subject: Agreement with EMS Disaster Fellowship, Inc. to Provide a Medical Director to the Emergency Medical Services Agency
RECOMMENDATION:
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Adopt a resolution authorizing an agreement with EMS Disaster Fellowship, Inc. to provide a Medical Director to the Emergency Medical Services Agency, for the term of September 1, 2023, through August 31, 2028, in an amount not to exceed $700,000.
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BACKGROUND:
California law requires that each Local Emergency Medical Services Agency have a Medical Director who is a physician experienced in emergency medicine and specifies that the service may be provided by contract. In collaboration with the San Mateo County Emergency Medical Services Agency (EMS Agency) Director, the Medical Director provides oversight and medical control of the countywide EMS system. This includes but is not limited to 9-1-1 emergency medical dispatch, first response, ground and air ambulance transport, and hospital-based stroke, cardiac, trauma, and specialty system of care services. The Medical Director is also responsible for promoting and protecting the public’s health through the development of evidence-based medical treatment protocols and policies, supporting medical and health response to emergencies and disasters, enforcing clinical standards of care, and other key functions.
The EMS Agency has contracted with EMS Disaster Fellowship, Inc., a C corporation owned and operated by Dr. Gregory H. Gilbert, to provide Medical Director services since September 1, 2020.
DISCUSSION:
The EMS Agency requests approval of a new agreement with EMS Disaster Fellowship, Inc., for Medical Director services provided by Dr. Gilbert.
The agreement will allow Dr. Gilbert to continue work in several key areas, including ongoing updates of Countywide EMS clinical field treatment protocols, continuous quality improvement initiatives, clinical oversight of the 9-1-1 Emergency Ambulance Services and the San Mateo County Pre-hospital EMS Group Paramedic First Response Provider agreements, as well as serving as the medical advisor to the San Mateo County Health Care Coalition and San Mateo County Medical Reserve Corps.
Dr. Gilbert has extensive and highly specialized experience as an emergency and teaching physician. He is Board certified in emergency medicine and emergency medical services and is recognized as a leader in EMS across the State of California. Dr. Gilbert actively participates in and leads various local, regional, and state EMS committees, representing San Mateo County. Dr. Gilbert's unique qualifications and strong performance to date inform The EMS Agency's procurement approach, in addition to County Administrative Memorandum B-1 Section IV.B.15, which exempts physician services from the Request for Proposals process.
The County's Contract Compliance Committee has approved a waiver request for a five-year term for this agreement. The agreement and resolution have been reviewed and approved by County Counsel as to form.
The resolution contains the County's standard provisions allowing amendment of the County fiscal obligations by a maximum of $25,000 (in aggregate).
It is anticipated that the Medical Director will attend and/or facilitate at least 35 clinical quality improvement activities and other EMS meetings annually.
PERFORMANCE MEASURE:
|
Measure |
FY 2022-23 Actual |
FY 2023-24 Projected |
|
Number of clinical quality improvement activities and other EMS meetings that the Medical Director will attend and/or facilitate |
30 activities |
35 activities |
FISCAL IMPACT:
The term of the agreement is September 1, 2023, through August 31, 2028. The amount of the agreement is not to exceed $700,000 for the five-year term. The anticipated annual cost of service is $140,000 per year. This amount is included in the EMS FY 2023-24 Recommended Budget. Similar arrangements will be made for future budget years. This agreement is funded by EMS Maddy Funds. There is no net county cost associated with this agreement.