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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 08-16-2005-5mORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT Meeting Date: August 16, 2005 SUBJECT: EMS Medical Director Contract Renewal Action Agenda Item No. ~,~y_ DEPARTMENT: Emergency Management - PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No EMS ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT: Contract Kent McKenzie, ext, 3030 TELEPHONE NUMBERS: Hillsborough Chapel Hill Durham Mebane 732-8181 968-4501 688-7331 336-227-2031 PURPOSE: To consider renewing a contract between Orange County and the UNC Department of Emergency Medicine concerning medical direction of Orange County's Emergency Medical Services (EMS) program, BACKGROUND: Orange County provides both Advanced and Basic Life Support (ALS & BLS) EMS service. Under State regulations, a county providing service must function under the medical supervision of a Medical Director. The County receives medical direction through the UNC Department of Emergency Medicine and UNC Hospitals by Dr..lane Brice and her Assistants, The Medical Director's responsibilities include providing training, monitoring and protocols far the emergency medical dispatch program at 9-1-1. The Medical Director performs quality assurance reviews and approves telecommunicators far certification, The Medical Director establishes the level of practice for the first responders and the training requirements 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 provides training, skill proficiency and evaluation of technician performance for the Initial Response Paramedics, The contract with the University 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 for 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 UNG Hospitals also provides a nurse liaison whose primary function is to facilitate skill evaluations, special training sessions, technician review with staff training officer, and assist in writing the required two year training program for state approval The Department of Emergency Medicine provides limited 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 funding for this contract is to help offset the costs of the Department of Emergency Medicine in providing physician coverage for Dr. Jane Brice. The amount of the contract is projected to be $39,000 annually, a $2,000 increase from the previous year. Funding is available in the 2005-2006 budget, FINANCIAL IMPACT: The $39,000 cost of this contract, a $2,000 increase over the current year, is included in the departmental operating budget. The contract is based on the County paying a percentage of the Medical Director's salary and benefit cost through the University, and the increase is based on both an annual salary increase and increased benefit costs for the University. RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board approve the renewal contract and authorize the Chair to sign, STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA ORANGE COUNTY THIS CONTRACT dated .June .30, 2005 between The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (the "University"), and the County of Orange (the "County") for provision of EMS Medical Direction Services 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 care to citizens ofthe 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 research, 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: 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, including First Responder, Basic Life Support, Advanced Life Support, and special events coverage personnel, including the EMS personnel of Orange EMS & Rescue Squad, Incorporated. 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 heatment 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 persomrel including, First Responders, Fire, Law Enforcement, Rescue, and EMS.. d, Facilitate a program of total quality management of patients addressing compliance to protocol, standards 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 Carolina 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 UNC Hospitals and receive complaints, comments, or questions from the hospitaPs medical staff about out-of-hospital emergency medical issues and consult with the Director for resolution. 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. g. Serve as the medical director for the Emergency Medical Dispatch program and perform the same functions for Communications as noted in sub-paragraphs b, c and d. h. Review data about the EMS System in Orange County and analyze activity and trends tluough interpretation of various databases. i. Provide weekly administrative time at the Department of Emergency Management for consultation and review of medical issues with the Director. Relate to all patients and staff of the County in a professional mamier. k. Provide medical consultation in accord with accepted methods and procedures. 1. Other duties as maybe requested and necessary in assuring a quality EMS program for Orange County. The department bead 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 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 Deparhnent of Emergency Medicine and the Director, The University and the County shall indicate their agreement to the designation of the Medical Director and any oflzer physicians involved as described above by signing the "Designation of Medical Director" attaclunent to this Contract. 4. In the event that the Medical Director and bank-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 terniinate. 5. The University shall be responsible for ensuring that any physicians providing services under this Contract maintain current registration and licensure and shall provide evidence of such to the County upon request, 6, Tire County shall compensate the University for the services provided pursuant to this Contract in the amount of Thirty Nine Thousand Dollars ($39,000.00) 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 September 1, 20054 and on or about .July 1 of each year thereafter.. The County and the University shall each designate one person as its official contact person for purposes of implementing and administering this Contract. 8. 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 benef is and insurance and be covered by Worker's Compensation insurance or self insurance. 10. Both parties to this contract will adhere to local, state, and federal legal requirements regarding the confidentiality ofinedical records, and may enact outer contracts or agreements stipulating the specific arrangements for achieving this compliance.. 11. 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. 12. 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 of notice 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. 1.3. 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. 14. No transfer or assmnption of liability for the acts of the employees or agents of either party is intended by the parties to this Contract. 15. 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. 16. 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. 17, The laws of North Carolina shall govenr 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 August, 2005.. COUNTY OF ORANGE Moses Carey, Chair ATTEST: Donna Baker, Clerk to the Board 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 iJNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT CHAPEL HILL William L. Roper, MD, MPh Dean of School of Medicine Vice Chancellor For Medical Affairs