Agenda 09/15/2009 Item # 6C
Agenda Item No. 6C
September 15, 2009
Page 1 of 5
COLLIER COUNTY
OFFICE OF THE COUNTY MANAGER
3301 East Tamiami Trail · Naples, Florida 341 J 2 · (239) 252-8383. FAX: (239) 252-4010
September 2, 2009
Chief Doug Dyer
East Naples Fire Control and Rescue District
4798 Davis Boulevard
Naples, FL 34104
Re: Public Petition Request to Discuss Allegations Made Against East Naples Fire
Control and Rescue District by Dr. Robert Tober
Dear Chief Dyer:
Please be advised that you are scheduled to appear before the Collier County Board of
Commissioners at the meeting of September 15, 2009, regarding the above referenced
subject.
_.
Your petition to the Board of County Commissioners will be limited to ten minutes.
Please be advised that the Board will take no action on your petition at this meeting.
However, your petition may be placed on a future agenda for consideration at the
Board's discretion. If the subject matter is currently under litigation or is an on-going
Code Enforcement case, the Board will hear the item but will not discuss the item after it
has been presented. Therefore, your petition to the Board should be to advise them of
your concern and the need for action by the Board at a future meeting.
The meeting will begin at 9:00 a.m. in the Board's Chambers on the Third Floor of the W.
Harmon Turner Building (Building "F") of the government complex. Please arrange to be
present at this meeting and to respond to inquiries by Board members.
If you require any further information or assistance, please do not hesitate to contact this
office.
Sincerely,
~~~~~,
Leo E. Ochs, Jr. ....z::~
Deputy County Manager
LEO/jb
cc: Jeffrey Klatzkow, County Attorney
Dan Summers, Bureau of Emergency Services
_.
Agenda Item No. 6C
September 15, 2009
Page 2 of 5
Request to Speak under Public Petition
Si:.P - i. 2009
Please print
Name: Chief Doua Over
Address: 4798 Davis Blvd NaDIes. FL 34104
Phone: {239)774-7111
Date of the Board Meeting you wish to speak: SeDtember 15. 2009
Must circle yes or no:
Is this subject matter under litigation at this time?
Is this subject matter an ongoing Code Enforcement case?
Yes/~
Yes~
Note: If either answer is "yes", the Board will hear the Item but will have no
discussion regarding the Item after It Is presented.
Please explain in detail the reason you are requesting to speak (attach additional page if
necessary): I would like to soeak to the Board of County Commissioners reqardina the
investiaation launched by East NaDles Fire Control and Rescue District into cheatina
.../ alleaations made aaainst East NaDles Fire District personnel by Dr. Rober Tober and Collier
County EMS staff. The investiQation was comDleted by Berrv, Day & McFee, P.A.. The
findinos have been orovicled to each of the CountY Commissioners on JulY 24, 2009.
Please explain in detail the action you are asking the Commission to take (attach additional
page if necessary):
The East NaDIes Fire Control and Rescue District is reauesting that the Board of County
Commissioners direct the County Mana98r to conduct an investiaation into the conduct of
Dr. Robert Tober in reference to his cheatina alleaationslaccusations. his interactions and
communications with the fire districts. the fact that h, is utilizing Collier County EMS staff for
Office of the M~ical Director administration. and has Dr. Tober been actina within the
scooe of the Board direction in his dealing~ with the fire districts and the media since the
inceotion of the Office of the Medical Director.
In addition. an investiaation of Collier County EMS staff reference their conduct reaardina
cheatino alleaationslaccusations. their interactions and communications with the fire
districts, the fact that they are beina utilized as Office of the Medical Director
administration. and if Collier County EMS staff are acting within the .CODe of the Board
direction.
Subseauently, the East NaDles Fire Control and Rescue District woutdlike the auestions
answered that are orovided with this oetition.
Agenda Item No. 6C
September 15,2009
Page 3 of 5
. ,'.
1.) Is it in the best interest of public safety to
limit Fire/Paramedics to simple basic life support?
What are the disadvantages, if any, to fire
operating on equal levels with E.M.S.?
2.) Is there any risk to public health by taking
medications off fire trucks and only allowing
Collier Emergency Management Service to provide
medications upon their arrival?
3.) Are Fire/paramedics adequately trained to
provide emergency care beyond basic life support
.~
services?
4.) Is there a benefit to the public to allow Fire
to operate in conjunction with E.M.S. and on equal
terms as recommended by the 2007 E.M.S. Master
Plan?
5.) Why would the outside expert suggest Fire and
E.M.S. work together in the lengthy 2007 Master
Plan if Dr. Tober is correct in all of his
assertions?
6.) Is it accurate that fire -rarely if ever- does
anything but provide basic life support?
'--.
3S
Berry, Da~McFee, P.A. . 2670 Airport Road South . Naples, Florida 34112 . 239-775-2255 . Fax 239'775-315~
Agenda Item No. 6C
September 15, 2009
Page 4 of 5
7.) Is it accurate to say that most advanced life
support is given during the transport phase of an
emergency call?
8.) Would it be of any benefit to the citizens of
Collier County to enhance Fire/Paramedics life
support training?
9.) Who is responsible for Fire training and what
steps have been taken to assure Fire/paramedics are
proficient in the administration of emergency
services?
10.) will the cooperation between E.M.S. and fire
result in a more fiscally responsible system?
'-
11.) Is it medically and factually accurate to say:
~if fire only did basic life support with the
addition of opinephrine, benadryl, atopine, and
amiodrone that the community would be served
equally as well as if they operated on an equal
level with County E.M.S.?-
12.) Are the citizens of Collier County better
served by some form of consolidation of services?
If so, what is the best format available?
13 .) Do the last 20 months of data possessed by Dr.
'-
Tober confirm that Fire Paramedics rarely, if ever,
36
Berry, Daye,McFee, P.A. · 2670 Airport Road South · N~s, Florida 34112 · 239-775-2255. Fax 239-775-3159
Agenda Item No. 6C
September 15, 2009
Page 5 of 5
,-.
use unsupervised ALS skills? Why has this data not
been released with any of Dr. Tober's
correspondence?
14.) How many emergency calls where Fire responds
without the necessary medications or training where
the patients suffer catastrophic results are deemed
medically acceptable casualties?
vs.
What actual data is there to support the medical
conclusion that Fire is not trained or qualified to
administer medications and perform services beyond
basic life support?
Dr. Tober is a highly qualified, nationally
recognized, emergency service provider. He has proven
his high level of competency on many' projects. Dr.
Tober's qualifications are not in dispute. What is
apparent is that his ability to work in conjunction
with Fire is non-existent. It is also apparent this
will likely not change. All of these problems pose
issues well beyond this report. They are, however.
issues that must be addressed to assure public
confidence in our emergency services.
'---..
37
Berry, Day&McFee, P.A. .2670 ^lrport Road South . Naples, Florida 34112 . 239-775-2255 . fax 239-775-3159