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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 05-02-1994-IX-D 1 ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS Action Agenda ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT Item No IX_D Meeting Date: May 2, 1994 SUBJECT: EMS Franchise Application - Johnston Ambulance Service ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT Emergency Management PUBLIC HEARING YES NO X -------------------------------- ------------------------------- ATTACHMENT(S) INFORMATION CONTACT Franchise Application Nick Waters, ext 3030 TELEPHONE NUMBER Hillsborough 732-8181 Chapel Hill 968-4501 Mebane 227-2031 Durham 688-7331 ----------------------------------------------------------------------- PURPOSE: To consider a franchise request from Johnston Ambulance Service, Inc. for the provision of convalescent only transports within Orange County in accordance with the provisions of the EMS franchise ordinance. BACKGROUND: In April 1993, the Board of Commissioners adopted an "Ordinance Regulating Emergency Medical, First Responder, and Rescue Service and Granting of Franchises and Contracts to the Operators in the County of Orange" . This ordinance updated and modernized the County' s ambulance and EMS regulations, and superseded the County' s 1981 EMS franchise ordinance. Johnston Ambulance Service, Inc. has asked to be franchised to provide convalescent only transports between locations in Orange County. They are not asking to be franchised for emergency transportation nor for any rescue services. EMS staff has reviewed the application and finds it to be in compliance with all the stipulations of the County' s franchise ordinance. The EMS Advisory Council discussed the application from Johnston Ambulance Service at its April 27 meeting and endorsed it by consensus. The proposed basic fee would be $85 per trip, plus $3 per mile traveled by the ambulance with the patient aboard. The County' s current fee is $60 plus $3 per patient loaded mile. Staff recommends that the Board also consider approval of a policy change that is directly tied to the franchise application from Johnston Ambulance Service - that Orange County discontinue providing convalescent transport service and turn this function over to private providers. At the present time, Orange County EMS provides convalescent transportation in addition to emergency response. Staff believes that a change to permit convalescent service being provided by private enterprise is a very positive development that will be beneficial to the county's Emergency Medical Services System. 2 l Having private providers would cause a significant decrease in the present workload (average number of convalescent calls per month is 62) of the Emergency Medical Services System and would improve the availability of ambulances for emergency or potentially emergency calls (average number of emergency or emergent calls per month is 720) . Currently, ambulances sometimes have extended response times because they respond from a standby situation, wherein they are temporarily stationed at a central point in the county (average number standby calls per month is 95 ) when other units are committed to additional calls, many of which are convalescent. The provision of convalescent transports by private providers would impact the EMS system by lowering operational costs, extending ambulance life, and diminishing the need for adding ambulance staff. Some EMS staff time would be redirected to higher priority functions. Elimination of County provided convalescent services would also eliminate the need for billing and collection for these services. This would redirect 10-15 hours per week of staff time in the Revenue Office to dealing with workload increases associated with the changes in the motor vehicle taxation system. Staff believes that the proposal to discontinue convalescent transport services represents a good example of rightsizing - redirecting County resources to provision of the most important services. County revenue can be expected to decrease by approximately $30,000-$35,000 annually, but staff believes that the benefits of reduced costs and redirection of staff effort to higher priorities will significantly outweigh the costs of reduced revenue. RECOMMENDATION: The Manager recommends that the Board approve the franchise for Johnston Ambulance Service, Inc. , to begin operation as soon as practicable, after allowing some time for notification to users of the convalescent transport service. c F 3 !APPLICATION FOR AL AM8ULl4NCB RESCUE OR MSDZCAL FIRST RSSPCf1IDBR FRANCHISE ORANGE COUNTY, MORTH CAROLINA �.�a s�Sxmmi=iiiSiiarig RTS�RSS.T.'aeaY Y.i'di iC imiai msiil�i0i AmsSa axe aeOyC i'�!S APPLICANT: Date of Applications March 14, 1994 Y. A. Name of Applicants JOHNSTON AMBULANCE SERVICE , INC . E. Address:Streets 1008 S. Pollock , PO Box 283 City/State: Selma , North Carolina gip 27576 C. Telephone No. at Base of Operations: 919-965-2249 D. Name of Owner/Contact Person: Leon Cannady, Sr. , President R. Address:Streets game as above city/State: same as above gip F. Telephone No. : 919-965-2249, 919-839-1125, 800-635-3500 G. *Trade Name: N/A H. Category of Franchise Applied For (A separate application must be completed for each category of service applied for) : BLS: ALS: RESCUE SERVICES [ ] First Responder [ j D-Level [ ] Extrication [ ] Emergency lied Techn. [ ] I-Level [ ] High/Low Angle �] Convalescent Transport { j P-Level [ j Confined Space [ ] Trench [ ] Water H. REQUIRED: 1. Certified copy of Articles of Incorporation Charter or *Assumed Certificate. 2. Resume' of training and experience of the applicant in rescue and transportation and care of patients. 3. A financial statemaent as it pertains to operations in Orange County. 4. A copy of Organization's Sy-Laois (if applicable) . 5. A copy of Organization's Standard Operating Procedures. 6. A current roster of members to include name, address,. and social security number.