Minutes 10/15/1997 AGENDA
EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES ADVISORY COUNCIL
(EMSAC)
INFORMAL MINUTES
October 15, 1997
2:00 p.m.
EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES HEADQUARTERS
3301 EAST TAMIAMI TRAIL
Council
Members: Bob Laird EXCUSED MEMBERS: Palma Fuson
Gary Young Mike Davis
Bob Schank Gary Young
Fay Biles Bob Schank
Roger Evans
Paul Gunther-Mohr
Sheldon Reed
Palma Fuson
Mike Davis
Others: Leo Ochs
Jeff Page
Joan Young
The regular monthly meeting of the Collier County, EMSAC committee was
called to order at 2:00 P.M. on Wednesday, October 15, 1997 by Bob Laird,
Chairman.
In the absence of vacationing Barbara Brown, Joan Young took minutes for the
meeting.
OLD BUSINESS:
Bob Laird wanted a correction made to last months minutes. Under "New
Business", paragraph 6 on page 3 of the minutes, with reference to the
Productivity Committee, and 80% of complaints it should have read "95%".
Also, Leo Ochs clarified for Roger Evans, the verbiage between paragraph 3
and paragraph 7 of page 3. Leo said that his statement was based on getting
the information from Medicare as early as November, but that he had no problem
with Fay Biles motion to table the fee schedule discussion until the December
meeting.
Fay Biles brought up the subject of ambulance fees in relation to the City of
Marco Island and their emergency services. Two of the candidates for Marco
Island City Council said, at an open meeting with about 900 Marco Island
residents present, that ambulance bills were exorbitant and that the fire
department could do it much cheaper than EMS. She commented that she
wondered where they got their information. A short discussion followed.
There were no other corrections to the minutes or discussions with reference to
last months minutes. The minutes were approved.
NEW BUSINESS:
Jeff Page gave the following report:
The new EMS station #16 is in place and functioning and going very well. Only
one minor problem arose. A new refrigerator was placed in the EMS quarters
but the firefighters on duty thought it was theirs and proceeded to move all food
out and their food in and told EMS colleagues not to use it. Their fire chief
explained the situation to them, problem solved. There were no other incidents.
MOU discussed. North Naples fire commission has approved signing the MOU
with some stipulations, one being that the price not go over $25,000 and that
EMS provide an accounting as to where the monies are going. AT East Naples
commission meeting there was not much progress. Jeff has been dealing with
Rob Pottiger. They are have some problems with the cost and some of the
firefighters are opposed as well. Jeff s impression is that it will not be an easy
transition but it will happen. Jeff feels that ultimately Golden Gate Fire District
will go along with the MOU but now there are some challenges with their fire
commissioners. There were some difficulties with the district 1 contract but
these problems were worked out.
Each of the districts feel they could get it done for less money. They feel they
can get people to instruct their firefighters in emergency medicine as far as
responding to calls.
Data Collection. Jeff said that the processing is going very well. This involves
the crews electronically sending run report information and it being downloaded
at building H, then further downloaded to the DOR. This process should be
started the week of October 20th, 1997 and will involve only a few satellite
stations to begin with to work out any "bugs" that the system may have. It is
possible to be on line as soon as November if the system continues to progress
as it is now doing.
Consumer Issues. There were only two consumer issues this past month. One
being a trauma patient, motor vehicle accident, found unconscious, severely
injured. Paramedics had to cut away her pants. Pants were inadvertently left at
the scene and apparently there was money in one of the pockets. This particular
piece of clothing was contaminated and should have been bagged and
transported with the patient to the hospital. No one knows where this piece of
clothing went. The Paramedics involved were spoken to and were reminded that
the clothing should be transported with the patient in these situations.
The other issue involved a stroke victim. She was transported to North Collier
Hospital, which was the appropriate destination as it was the closest facility. A
few days later she was transported to Naples Community Hospital and was
upset that she wasn't taken there first. The problem came when a doctor at
North Collier Hospital agreed that she should have gone directly to Naples
Community Hospital as the rehab is there. A copy of the transport protocol was
faxed to the patient and Jorge Aguilera, Training Commander, contacted Dr.
Taylor at North Collier with a reminder of what our transport protocol is.
Leo Ochs referenced Isles of Capri and their desire to have East Naples Fire
manage their fire calls. This issue will go before the County Commissioners at
the October 28, 1997 meeting. More details at the next EMSAC meeting.
Jeff Page passed out copies of a Naples Daily News articles about the
defibrillators being placed in public locations around the county and the move
into North Naples Fire Station 43, near Bonita. Everyone agreed that this is a
very good idea. Roger Evans suggested that perhaps is would be possible to
get a joint grant with his department and EMS on the automatic defibrillators.
Bob Laird brought up the point that there should have been an election of
officers at this EMSAC meeting. After a few minutes discussion, it was decided
that this election would be postponed until next month's meeting in hopes that
more members would be present.
November's meeting was discussed. Bob Laird suggested that November's
meeting date be changed to Thursday, November 20th as Diane Flagg will be
out of town for the next 5 or 6 Wednesday's. Everyone agreed that this would
be a good date. The November meeting will be: Thursday, November 20, 1997.
The subject of December's meeting came up as it will fall around the holiday. It
was decided that this issue will be dealt with at the November meeting.
Motion made and seconded that meeting be adjourned. Meeting was adjourned.
Respectfully Submitted By
Joan Young