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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 06-19-2001-8j`~. ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS i ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT Meeting Date: June 19, 2001 Action Agenda Item No. SUBJECT: EMS Transportation Contract (Orange EMS & Rescue Squad, Inc.) _ DEPARTMENT: Emergency Management PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT: Nick Waters, ext. 3030 Contract TELEPHONE NUMBERS: Hillsborough 732-8181 Chapel Hill 968-4501 Durham fi88-7331 Mebane 336-227-2031 PURPOSE: To consider renewing the contract with Orange EMS & Rescue Squad, Inc. to provide the transportation component for emergency medical services (EMS) until June 30, 2002. BACKGROUND: The County first entered into a contract with South Orange Rescue Squad on September 25, 1996 under which the Squad provides personnel to drive the county ambulances used in the Transportation Component of EMS. This arrangement is part of the system design of Emergency Medical Services and allows the Squad to remain active while preventing or postponing the need to add permanent county staff positions to carry out the task. In 1999, South Orange and Orange County Rescue Squads merged to form the present Orange EMS and Rescue Squad, Inc. The merged organization has continued to perForm this function for the County, under the current contract which expires on June 30, 2001. FINANCIAL IMPACT: The terms of the contract call for the County to reimburse the Squad's legitimate EMS related expenses in the amount of $555,230. This amount is included in the Manager's recommended 2001-02 budget for the Department of Emergency Management, and represents an increase of $120,000 over the current contract. Budgeted.fee revenue for the County's total EMS program for FY 2000-01 was $675,000. The Manages recommended budget for FY 2001-02 includes $725,000 in expected EMS fee revenue. As noted in the Manager's transmittal message and formal presentation to the BOCC for the FY 2001-02 budget, staff will be examining during the next 6-8 months the options for future delivery of the EMS transportation service. The ability of traditionally volunteer organizations like the Rescue Squad to continue delivering service using only volunteers is diminishing rapidly. The Squad has been obliged to use more and more paid staff, both full-time and part- time temporary, to meet their staffing obligations under the terms of this contract with the County. Squad financial records indicate that during FY 2000-01, it has not been uncommon for the Squad to have to dip into its own reserves for as much as $8,000-$12,000 monthly in 2 order to cover their expenses associated with providing this service. The proposed increase in the amount ofi the contract for FY 2001-02 is intended to minimize the degree to which the Squad must tap its own reserves to provide this service for the upcoming year. Stafif expects to report to the Board by next spring on options and recommendations for the provision of EMS transportation, which could include among others: continued contracting with the Squad; contracting;, with another private non-profit or fior-profit entity, provision of the service by County staff only; or some combination of these other approaches. RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board approve the contract with Orange EMS & Rescue Squad for the period July 1, 2001 -June 30, 2002; and authorize the Chair to sign it, subject to final review by staff and the County Attorney. 2 ~t STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA COUNTY OF ORANGE AGREEMENT BETWEEN- ORANGE EMS AND RESCUE SQUAD, INC. AND ORANGE COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA THIS AGREEMENT, made and entered into the 19th day of June, 2001 by and between Orange EMS and Rescue Squad, Inc., hereinafter referred to as "THE SQUAD" and Orange County, North Carolina, hereinafter referred to as "THE COUNTY", for and an behalf of its Office of Emergency Management Services. WITNESSETH: WHEREAS, THE COUNTY pursuant to the authority contained in N.C.G.S.153A-250(b), wishes to have a private non-profit organization provide the transportation component and special events services as part of its emergency medical system using personnel other than County Staff and to compensate said agency for those services; and WHEREAS, THE SQUAD desires to provide this service to THE COUNTY. NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and of the following mutual promises, covenants and conditions, THE COUNTY and THE SQUAD agree as follows: I. SQUAD RESPONSIBILITIES A. To name a single paint of contact that has the right and authority to conduct business on behalf of THE SQUAD. The name of this individual shall be provided to THE COUNTY upon the signing of this agreement. THE SQUAD shall provide THE COUNTY with notice of any change in the contact person 5 working days prior to the effective date of the change. B. To provide staffimg of ambulances 24 hours per day, 7 days per week at staffing levels established by agreement of the parties provided, however, that in no event shall THE SQUAD permit the staffing of ambulances used to provide services under this agreement by individuals certified below the level of Emergency Medical Technician; and to provide staffing of ambulances for special events. C. To ensure that all personnel are trained, certified and current in all continuing education requirements pursuant to standards set by THE COUNTY, and other licensing/certificationboords as maybe appropriate. Evidence of certification required by NCGS 131E-159 shall be provided to THE COUNTY. THE SQUAD shall ensure that these records are kept current. 3 D. To purchase items used by THE SQUAD for the provision of emergency medical services in accordance with Orange County purchasing policies and procedures, and to maintain records of these purchases for periodic review by THE COUNTY. E. To maintain legal personnel documentation, including an appropriate record of times worked for paid and volunteer personnel, and to make these personnel records available to THE COUNTY as needed with appropriate prior notice. F. To ensure that at all times when on duty, THE SQUAD's personnel are attired in a uniform approved by THE COUNTY.. . G. To perform daily checkouts of each unit, all supplies and equipment at the beginning of each shift, and report any deficiencies to THE COUNTY in a manner approved by THE COUNTY. THE SQUAD shall not allow the supplies and equipment on each unit to fall below the standards established by the North Carolina Medical Care Commission. H. To properly maintain the vehicles provided by THE COUNTY in good working order and notify Emergency Management of any needed maintenance or repairs. THE SQUAD shall keep and maintain records of the operation and maintenance of the vehicles in accordance with N.C.G.S. 131E-156. Copies of these records shall be furnished to THE COUNTY. Further; it shall be the responsibility of THE SQUAD to notify Emergency Management when to obtain or renew both .the ambulance permit required by N.C,G:S. 131E-156 and the safety inspection required by N.C,G.S. 20-183. I. THE SQUAD shall provide and maintain evidence of a current .Ambulance Providers License, issued pursuant to N.C.G.S. 131E-155.1, to THE COUNTY. J. To submit a regular monthly accounting report including income, salary, maintenance, supplies, fuel, and other associated operational items to THE COUNTY; and to submit special event coverage report forms at the conclusion of each event. K. THE SQUAD understands and agrees that the financial officer or designee of THE COUNTY shall have the right to inspect, upon reasonable notice, all books and records of THE SQUAD; and will be given full and complete access. L. To ensure that THE SQUAD'S personnel conduct themselves in a professional manner at all times and consistent with the conduct expectations of the Orange County Personnel Ordinance and specifically comply with the policies of the Squad on file with the County which address harassment, discrimination, personal conduct, drug free work place and employment of relatives. M. The SQUAD will compensate its paid employees at a rate not lower than the .Living Wage as established in the Orange County Personnel Ordinance. -~ II. COUNTY RESPONSIBILITIES 4 A. To provide ambulance vehicles of sufficient number to support the staffing levels required of THE SQUAD. However, any ambulances provided by THE . COUNTY are and shall remain the property of THE COUNTY and upon termination of this agreement are to be returned to THE COUNTY in good working condition, reasonable wear and tear excepted. B: To approve a standard uniform for SQUAD personnel providing services pursuant to this Agreement. C. To provide necessary supplies, equipment, fuel, and other medical essentials far the stocking of staffed units to the level specified by THE COUNTY, and to provide a method of re-stocking units after each use. D. To provide for the preventive maintenance and repair of the ambulance vehicles used by THE SQUAD to provide services pursuant to this Agreement. This includes all vehicles used to provide services under this Agreement owned by THE COUNTY. E. To retain full authority and responsibility for the care and treatment of all patients that use the EMS system; and to ensure that appropriate medical supervision is provided to THE SQUAD. F. THE COUNTY'S medical director will provide medical care direction and medical control to THE SQUAD. G. THE COUNTY'S medical director will review and approve training and continuing educarion that will assure the maintenance of all the SQUAD's EMS personnel certifications. H. Ta provide required health and safety programs including immunization, medical evaluation, training, and post exposure management for the personnel of THE SQUAD providing services pursuant to this Agreement. I. To provide operational management of THE SQUAD's personnel during all activities related to the provision of emergency medical services under this contract. J. To furnish to THE SQUAD an annual cash stipend of $ 555,230.00 to provide the transportation component of emergency medical services under this agreement. This cash stipend will be based on approved actual costs incurred by THE SQUAD for the provision of emergency medical services in the previous year and will be paid to THE SQUAD in equal monthly installments of $ 46,269.17 by the 10~' day of each month. K. To furnish to THE SQUAD reimbursement of the approved costs for special event coverage within two weeks of receipt by THE COUNTY from THE SQUAD of apprapriate special event coverage report forms. 5 III. INSURANCE THE SQUAD will be responsible for the negligence of its personnel and agents. Further, THE COUNTY shall define the amount and levels of insurance which THE SQUAD shall maintain for the activities performed pursuant to this Agreement as well as the buildings and equipment used to provide services under this Agreement. It shall be at THE COUNTY'S option to either provide the coverage through a policy purchased by THE COUNTY or to reimburse THE SQUAD for insurance policies purchased by them. Any policies of insurance purchased directly by THE SQUAD shall be through an insurance company acceptable to THE COUNTY. IV. TERM This agreement shall run from July 1, 2001 through June 30, 2002, and shall be renewable thereafter upon written agreements executed by both parties. V. TERNIINATION The Agreement or its renewal may be terminated at any time without penalty by either party provided that written notice of such termination is furnished to the other party at least 60 days prior to termination. In the event of such termination any payment due shall be prorated to the date of termination. VI. MUTUAL UNDERSTANDING THE SQUAD and THE COUNTY understand and agree that nothing in this agreement shall be construed to create an exclusive arrangement between the parties, and THE COUNTY is free to provide services by other means. VII. ENTIRE UNDERSTANDING The Agreement contains the entire understanding of the parties and shall not be altered, amended or modified, except by an agreement in writing executed by the authorized representative of both parties. VIII. SITUS The laws of North Cazolina shall govern the validity and interpretation of the provisions, terms and conditions of this agreement. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have hereunto signed this Agreement in their official capacities of the day and yeaz listed below. FOR AND ON BEHALF OF: ORANGE EMS AND RESCUE SQUAD, INC. DATE: SANDOR BALOGH CHAIR OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS FOR AND ON BEHALF OF: ORANGE COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA DATE: STEPHEN HALKIOTIS CHAIR OF THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS ATTEST: 6 BEVERLY A. BLYTHE CLERK TO THE BOARD