HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 06-05-2001-8pT
ORANGE COUNTY
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT
Meeting Date: June 5, 2001
Action Age da
Item No.
SUBJECT: Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Medical Director Contract Renewal
DEPARTMENT: Emergency Management - PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No
EMS
ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT:
Contract Nick Waters, ext 3030
TELEPHONE NUMBERS:
Hillsborough 732-8181
Chapel Hill 968501
Durham 688-7331
Mebane 336-227-2031
PURPOSE: To consider renewing an agreement between Orange County and UNC Hospitals
concerning medical direction of Orange County's Emergency Medical Services (EMS) program.
BACKGROUND: Orange County provides an Advanced Life Support (ALS) EMS service.
Under State regulations, a County providing that level of service must function under a Medical
Director at the sponsor hospital. The County receives medical direction through UNC Hospitals
from Dr. Jane Brice.
The Medical Directors responsibilities include providing training, monitoring and protocols for
the emergency medical dispatch program at 9-1-1. The Medical Director performs quality
assurance reviews and approved telecommunicators for certification. The Medical Director
establishes the level of practice for the first responders and the training requirements for them
to operate automatic defibrillators. Each first responder must be annually trained and tested in
defibrillation. The Medical Director determines the standard of care and appropriate treatment
protocols for the paramedics. The Medical Director must provide training, skill proficiency and
evaluation of technician performance for the Initial Response Paramedics.
The agreement with the Hospital also requires that the Medical Director have an appropriate
number of assistant medical directors to assure availability at all times. The Medical Director
serves as a consultant for the Paramedics in the field on patient care issues. The Medical
Director meets weekly with EMS staff to provide consultation and review of medical issues.
In addition to a Medical Director, the Hospital also provides a nurse liaison whose primary
functions are to facilitate skill evaluations, special training sessions, technician review with staff
training officer, and to assist in writing the required two-year training program for state approval.
The Hospital provides computer support for the EMS database, which includes patient medical
records, and analytical programs with interpretation of data.
Performing the duties of medical director requires Dr. Jane Brice to be replaced in her
emergency department clinical rotations from time to time. The $30,000 annual cost to the
County of this agreement helps to offset the costs incurred by the Hospital in providing
physician coverage for Dr. Brice while she is engaged in performing EMS Medical Director
duties.
FINANCIAL IMPACT: The contract renewal cost for 2001-02 is for $30,000, the same rate as
in the current annual contract. The Manages recommended budget for the Department of
Emergency Management for FY 2001-02 includes funding for this agreement.
RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board approve the agreement
and authorize the Chair to sign it.
STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA
ORANGE COUNTY
THIS CONTRACT dated July 1, 2001 between The University of
North Carolina at Chapel Hill (the "University"), and the County of Orange (the
"County") for provision of an EMS_Medical Director to Orange County.
WITNESSETH
Whereas, the County and the University have historically cooperated and worked
jointly on matters of mutual concern and interest; and
Whereas, the County operates and maintains a Department of Emergency
Management which, as one of its functions, provides emergency medical caze to citizens
of the County; and
Whereas, the County wishes to have associated with this program a trained
physician specializing in emergency medicine to provide guidance and support; and
Whereas, the University, through its Department of Emergency Medicine, wishes
to provide this service for the County; and
Whereas, performance of the activities described herein is consistent with the
University's goals of reseazch, teaching, education and public service.
NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual covenants
and conditions set forth below, the County and the University agree as follows:
1. The University agrees to provide a physician from the Department of
Emergency Medicine to serve as EMS Medical Director to the County (hereafter "the
Medical Director").
2. The duties of the Medical Director shall include the following:
a. Provide medical direction for the emergency medical services
program of Orange County.
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b. Develop, review, and periodically update medical treatment
protocols in conjunction with the County Director of Emergency
Management or designee (hereafter "the Director").
c. Provide medical treatment supervision of personnel by randomly
responding to EMS calls and observing the approach, demeanor,
relationships, and medical treatment provided to the patient and
others by all responding personnel including, First Responders,
Fire, Law Enforcement, Rescue, and EMS.
d. Facilitate a program of total quality management of patients
addressing compliance to protocol, standazds of care, technician
proficiency, appropriate patient management, effectiveness of
treatments and protocols, evaluation for positive patient
outcomes and other components of the EMS system that occur
from access through 911 to delivery through the Emergency
Department at the University of North Cazolina Hospitals. Provide
ongoing recommendations to the Director of system needs and
changes necessary to implement and operate the patient total
quality management program.
e. Serve as the contact person for the sponsor hospital and receive
complaints, comments, or questions from the hospital's medical
staff about out-of-hospital emergency medical issues and consult
with the Director far resolution.
f. Serve on the Orange County Emergency Medical Services
Advisory Council.
g. Assist the Medical Affairs Officer for the County's Department
of Emergency Management in general medical issues for HazMat,
Fire, Rescue, Law Enforcement, and others in providing coverage
for special events, planning for mass casualty, and other activities
outside the routine EMS tasks.
h. Serve as the medical director for the Emergency Medical Dispatch
program and perform the same functions for Communications as
noted in sub-pazagraphs b, c and d.
i. Assist with maintaining and supporting the EMS database for
Orange County Emergency Management to include updating forms
and programs as needed, developing reports and providing
analytical interpretation of data.
j. Provide weekly administrative time at the Department of
Emergency Management for consultation and review of medical
issues with the Director.
k. Relate to all patients and staff of the County in a professional
manner.
1. Provide medical consultation in accord with accepted methods
and procedures.
m. Other duties as may be requested and necessary in assuring a
quality EMS program for Orange County.
3. The department head of the University's Department of Emergency
Medicine, with the advice and consent of the Director, shall designate the
physician who will serve as the Medical Director and the name of any
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physician or physicians who will provide services under this Contract as
back-up to the person named as the Medical Director in the event the
Medical Director is unavailable. The names of those designated shall,
upon designation, be provided to the Director.
a. Any change in the persons designated will be agreed upon by the
head of the University's Department of Emergency Medicine and
the Director.
b. The University and the County shall indicate their agreement to
the designation of the Medical Director and any other physicians
involved as described above by signing the "Designation of
Medical Director" attachment to this Contract.
4. In the event that the Medical Director and back-up physicians become
unwilling or unable to perform the duties required by this Contract, the
University shall, with the advice and consent of the Director, designate
replacements. If agreement on designations is not achieved, then this
Contract shall terminate.
5. The University shall be responsible for ensuring that any physicians
providing services under this Contract mair}tain current registration and
licensure and shall provide evidence of such to the County upon request.
6. The County shall compensate the University for the services provided
pursuant to this Contract in the amount of Thirty Thousand Dollars
($30,000.00) per year for services provided from July 1 of each year
through June 30 of the next year. Payment shall be made on or about July
1, 2001 and on or about July 1 of each year thereafter.
7 The County and the University shall each designate one person as its
official contact person for purposes of implementing and administering
this Contract.
$. Nothing contained therein is intended to alter or abridge the employment
relationship between the University and its employees or the County and
its employees.
9. Any University staff providing services under this Contract to the County
shall be provided with the University's medical and hospitalization
benefits and insurance and be covered by Worker's Compensation
insurance or self insurance.
10. This Contract will be reviewed annually no later than June 15 for renewal
effective the following July 1, and may be renewed, modified, or amended
at that time, or any time, upon the mutual written agreement of the parties.
11. This Contract maybe terminated as provided in paragraph 4 and, without
the fault of either party, at any time by either party giving 90 days notice
to the other party in writing. If either party defaults in its obligations and
does not cure such default within ten (10) days of receipt ofnotice of such
default, the non-defaulting party may immediately terminate the Contract.
The University shall refund a pro rata portion of the compensation
received by it for any portion of a Contract year in the event of a
termination of this Contract not the result of a default by the County.
12. The University shall be responsible for the negligence of its employees and
agents to the extent of the North Carolina Tort Claims Act. Further, the
University, in consultation as to amount with the County, shall provide
adequate professional liability insurance for the University personnel who
provide the services described in this Contract. The insurance limits will
be stated in a Certificate of Insurance or other written evidence of
insurance submitted to the County at the time the Contract is commenced.
13. No transfer or assumption of liability for the acts of the employees or
agents of either party is intended by the parties to this Contract.
14. The University and the County hereby agree that, in their educational
and/or employment practices, each will comply with such non-
discrimination laws as maybe applicable to them in the performance of
this Contract.
15. This Contract contains the entire understanding of the parties and shall
not be altered, amended, or modified, except by an agreement in writing
executed by the duly authorized officials of both parties.
16. The laws of North Cazolina shall govern the validity and interpretation of
the provisions, terms, and conditions 'of the Contract.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have duly and validly authorized
and executed this Contract of this day of June, 2001.
COUNTY OF ORANGE
Stephen H. Halkiotis, Chair
ATTEST:
Beverly A. Blythe, Clerk to the
Boazd of Commissioners
Approved as to form:
County Attorney
"This instrument has been preaudited in the manner required by the Local Government
Budget and Fiscal Control Act."
Orange County Finance Director
FOR AND ON BEHALF OF THE
UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA
AT CHAPEL HILL
Nancy D. Suttenfield
Vice Chancellor for Finance and Administration