Loading...
Minutes 03/25/1998 EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES ADVISORY COUNCIL (EMSAC) INFORMAL MINUTES March 25, 1998 2:00 P.M. EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES HEADQUARTERS 3301 East Tamiami Trail Council Members Present: Bob Laird Excused: Rhona Saunders Roger Evans Mike Davis Paul Gunther Mohr Gary Young Gail Dolan Leo Ochs Chief Flagg Unexcused: George Leamon John Yonkosky Commander Reed Theresa Risen Fay Biles Commander Rockey Tim Smith Commander Page Chief Tobin The regular monthly meeting of the Collier County EMSAC committee was called to order at 2:00 P.M. on Wednesday, February 25, 1998 by Bob Laird, Chairman. Roger Evans stated he had inquired where the liability for the new AED program resided, and he thought the response initially was with the County. The minutes describe a lot more detail with respect to it being a part of the Good Samaritan Act. He inquired if it came under the County's general sovereign immunity and/or Good Samaritan. Chief Flagg reported it falls under both. The personnel is the Good Samaritan, the training is the County. Roger Evans requested the minutes to reflect the personnel falls under the Good Samaritan Act, and the training falls under the County's sovereign immunity. With no further corrections motion was made and 2nd to except the minutes of the February 25, 1998 meeting. Motion passed. OLD BUSINESS Chief Flagg handed out the update of the EMS Salary Review and the Organizational Data. The two primary issues was losing qualified people between the three and five year time frame, going to other systems for higher compensation and benefits. The second issue was being unable to recruit individuals into the system that were quality individuals. Quality individuals were going to other systems. The County Commissioners have been very supportive of the plan, and it was Mr. Ebben's recommendation, of the Productivity Committee, to move forward immediately with the pay plan. Mr. Paul Gunther-Mohr remarked on the vast difference of the pay plans with other cities and wanted to know if the benefits were comparable or not? Chief Flagg stated they are not, but they were not taken into consideration. Chief Flagg reported on the community AED Program. That program is in the final stages in terms of writing the Instructor Course. The National American Heart Association is waiting for Collier County EMS to implement this course. They will use it to model AED courses across the nation. The Ordinance is scheduled to go before the Board, May 12`h. After is goes before the Board, EMS will begin placing AED throughout the community and training people on how to use them. NEW BUSINESS Leo Ochs stated Mr. Yonkosky had a brief presentation on the ambulance billing for Fiscal Year 99. Mr. Yonkosky stated the current ambulance rate is $302 with no mileage rate. The funding options he handed out went over the different options with different mileage charges with a 7 mile cap. Mr. Yonkosky explained on the "Fee Screen" hand out the mileage that Medicare will give 80% of is $4.16 per mile. For our locality, there are seven counties in our locality, the customary charge is $6.00 per mile. Five of the seven counties in our locality charge mileage. The base rate in our locality range from $285 to $342. Mr. Yonkosky stated the recent trend shows Medicare as a percentage of transports is dropping. He will be doing another 6 month comparison to see how the percentage figures for the next six months. For some reason he feels the revenue stream is changing and may have an impact on how the rates are to be figured in the future. A discussion followed on the impact of Medicaid and their future payment schedule. Leo Ochs informed the committee the recommendation at the staff level, to the Board of County Commissioners, would be Option #3, User fees of$300 with a $5 per mile charge and a 7 mile cap. 2 Chief Flagg informed the committee the projected FY99 budget would be $10,000,000 and the Funding Options that Mr. Yonkosky provided the group were the different options that had been looked at. Providing the Board accepts everything that is being recommending, placement of a unit in Golden Gate Estates, placement of a unit at Isles of Capri, the pay plan adjustment and the special risk, the projected budget of FY99 will be $10,000,000. Chief Flagg stated the general public has.some concern that they do not receive a bill when the Sheriff shows up, they do not receive a bill when the Fire Department shows up, their concern is why do they receive a bill when EMS shows up. North Naples Fire Department is telling North Naples if their fire department provides service to their district, they will not receive a bill. In reality, they won't receive a bill, because they are paying twice as much in their taxes. In North Naples through their taxes they are paying a $100 per year. If we didn't send a bill they would be paying $49 a year. Chairman Laird wanted to bring up new member Chief Tobin has missed two unexcused meetings, and the executive committee can make recommendations that they be removed from the membership. I am making that motion_ Gail Dolan asked if he shouldn't be talked to before removing. Chairman Laird mention that the first meeting he was to attend he sent a substitute, Mr. Orly Stolts, he was given a copy of the rules and regulations. Gary Young inquire to Chief Tobin's position. Chairman Laird stated he is on the Board as President of the Collier County Fire Chief's Association. He also stated, he has missed three meetings if you count the meeting he sent someone. Roger Evans stated the distinction is, is it the organization or the person. Chairman Laird stated the by-laws state the President of the Collier County Fire Chief's Association as an ex-officio non voting member. Gary Young stated maybe a letter should be sent and explain that if he cannot attend he needed to send a representative. Gail Dolan suggested Chairman Laird call him and explain. Chairman Laird stated he went into detail with Mr. Stolts and felt that was sufficient. In the past the Fire Chief's tried to attend the meetings. Roger Evans pointed out the by-laws state the President of the Fire Chief's Association is an ex-officio non voting member. Then it states if three meetings in a year are missed they may be replaced. He suggested the Chairman talk with the Chief and tell him he has to attend, in the meantime he recommended a statement be made in the by-laws that either or should attend. It was Chairman Laird's understanding if he were removed, there would be no representation from the Fire Chief's Association, until a new president is elected. It was Chairman's Laird recommendation a letter be sent to the County Commissioners for their recommendation. Gary Young recommended a letter be sent to the Commission saying we have a member who doesn't show up and he is suppose to be here, please advise. Leo Ochs, stated in that case they would refer you to your own by-laws. Chairman Laird stated the by-laws have been approved by the Board of Commissioners. Chairman Laird read from the by-laws, two unexcused consecutive or three unexcused total within one year. We have had three missed meetings with two consecutive missed meetings and one meeting with an alternate. Gary Young stated if someone can't make a meeting all they have to do, is pick up the telephone and call. Chairman Laird also brought up Mike 3 Davis, as he wanted a regular meeting date in lieu of a changing one so he could attend the meetings, and he is not in attendance, however, he was excused. Chairman Laird brought up the recent article in the newspaper. The Commission has been asked to consider a Public Safety Division. Chairman Laird was under the impression that Chief Flagg did this and he did not understand what he was doing. He asked Chief Flagg if this was something they should get into as the Advisory Council. Chief Flagg, did not know. Leo Ochs stated the right now there are four operating division that report to the County Administrator. The proposal was to create a fifth division of Public Safety as part of larger re-organization plan. That is where it was left, he has no other information. He has no idea when it will go back before the Commission. Chairman Laird went back to the Fire Chiefs absenteeism and the motion he had made. Gary Young asked, if he wanted to write a letter to him. Chairman Laird stated he did not want to write a letter to the Chief, he would to write a letter to the Commissioners. Gary Young stated he would second it. Roger Evans asked if the letter to the Commissioners was to ask for their recommendation as to what to do? Chairman Laird stated he would recommend termination pending the Commissioners recommendation. Motion passed, four vote's approving with one dissenting vote. Chief Flagg wanted to inform the committee that the partnership program EMS has been doing started in Everglades City, three years ago it was started in Marco, and a year ago it started in the City of Naples. The partnership consists of instead of both a medic unit and a fire truck going to a 911 call, one of the firefighters ride on a medic unit and just the medic unit goes on a 911 call. That program has worked out very well, it has been very successful and the community has been very receptive to it. One of the reasons for this partnership was to eliminate the duplication of two emergency vehicles, one that is not designed to respond to medical calls to leave in the station to respond to fire calls, and send the medic unit with the fire fighter on it. This also reduces cost by sending only one unit. The fire fighter and the two paramedics work well together as a part of the team. The other advantage is with the two people in the back of the medic unit taking care of the patient you enhance the level of patient care as opposed to the current staffing which is one. Chief Rambosk has been working with Chief Flagg the last few months to do an augmentation to that program. The City of Naples would still continue to do the single vehicle response, one call one vehicle, but there is probably less than 10% of their time, we have two medic units in the city, one at each of the fire stations. Less thank 10% of the time the primary unit is already on a call and then another 911 call comes in, so a program that I am going to meet with the City Manager and the County Administrator, and Chief Rambosk are going to sit down and discuss another program where we continue to do one call, one vehicle, but in the second program we take one of our crossed trained paramedics, and place them on one of their pumpers and taking one of their people who is crossed trained, a firefighter/paramedic, and put them on a medic unit to work under a EMS Lieutenant who will then train them. We have exchanged people and enhanced service. The only time the secondary unit would take effect would be if the primary unit was out. Again, that is less than 10% of the time. The advantage of this program is you 4 are utilizing existing resources to enhance the level of services to the community. This program has the approval of the City Manager it has to be approved by the County Administrator and then the respective Boards. Chief Flagg informed the group, it came to her attention, Chief Tobin, Fire Chief of North Naples has picked a group of Advisory Board members to serve as the North Naples Fire Control Rescue District. These seven individuals have written to the Board of County Commissioners, as a representative of the position they hold, that they support the North Naples Fire Control and Rescue District in providing paramedics on their fire companies. They are requesting a Certificate of Need for paramedic service in North Naples. Meeting Adjourned pectfully submitted Barbara Brown, EMS Secretary 5