HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 10-09-1979 MINUTES
ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
OCTOBER 9, 1979
The Orange County Board of Commissioners met in special work session
with persons involved and interested in emergency medical services on
Tuesday, October 9, 1979, at 7:30 p.m., in the Grand Jury Room, of the
old Courthouse, in Hi-llsborpugh, North Carolina.
The purpose of the work-session was to give persons invited-an-
opportunity to speak about their concerns, the future direction of
the Emergency Medical Services Council and the role the Board of
Commissioners should play.
Commissioners present: Commissioner Richard Whitted, Chairman;
and Commissioners Norman Walker, Anne Barnes, Norman Gustaveson and
Don Willhoit.
Other persons present included Mr. Bill Lessig, Orange County Rescue
Squad; Dr. Sara Dent, Orange County Rescue Squad; Ms. Anita Clark, repre-
sentative of Region J; Mrs. Flora Garrett; Mrs. Mary Davison, North
Carolina Memorial Hospital; Mr. Benny Cecil, Orange Rescue Squad;
Mr. Buster Crabtree, Orange Rescue Squad; Mr. Fred Parker, North Carolina
Memorial Hospital; Mr. Lloyd Senter, South Orange Rescue Squad,
Mr. Art Myers, Orange Rescue Squad; Mr. Bill Bobzien, Chairman EMS
Advisory Council at North Carolina Memorial Hospital; Mr. Ralph Love,
Orange Rescue Squad; Dr. Tommy Griggs, North Carolina Memorial Hospital;
Mr. John Jeffries, Orange County Rescue Squad; Mr. Bruce Davis, New Hope
Rescue Squad and Mr. Bobby Baker, Central Communications.
Mr. Bill Lessig, Mrs. Mary Davison and Mr. Fred Parker gave some
background information concerning the establishment, work and problems
leading to the dissolution of the County's EMS Council.
Ms. Anita Clark, representative of Region J, expressed the need to re-
establish the EMS Council so the County would be eligible for available
State funding.
The Chairman asked those present to help the Board compile a list
of problems relating to emergency medical services.
The following items were discussed: Boundaries; level of care available
throughout the County; MICT IV certification for rural areas; level of
care public wishes to support and level of care public expects; need for
official leadership to bridge these problems; need for mandate from
Board of Commissioners concerning the function, duties, power and priorities
of the EMS Council; medical direction; sponsor hospital; record keeping;
requirements of volunteers; need for a forum for issues relating to paid
EMS employees,_ sources of-funding the-need for a support staff; --
coordination with other agencies such as police and fire; a disaster
plan; ambulance ordinance; set standards for outsiders using the system;
public education; consideration of and setting priorities to meet the
goals developed by the EMS Council and the 15 federal EMS standards.
Commissioner Willhoit suggested bringing the Board up to. date
on the current level of services, the level of services desired and
the cost to reach the desired level of services.
Commissioner Whitted requested Mrs. Garrett's help in identifying resources
to enable the Board to start work on some of the items discussed during
the meeting.
It was the consensus of the Board to hold a work session to discuss
and begin work on some of the items brought forth at an early agenda.
Commissioner Whitted requested Ms. Anita Clark send the Board a
list of the qualifications required to receive MICT EMT IV certifications.
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned.
Richar E. Whitted, Chairman
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Mary Lou Bouley, Clerk /
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