HomeMy WebLinkAboutStaff Report 201-10________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
CMR 201:10 PAGE 1 OF 2
TO: HONORABLE CITY COUNCIL
ATTN: FINANCE COMMITTEE
FROM: CITY MANAGER DEPARTMENT: FIRE
DATE: APRIL 20, 2010 CMR: 201:10
SUBJECT: Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Master Plan Update
This is an Informational Report and no action is required by the Finance Committee.
BACKGROUND
The City of Palo Alto awarded a contract in January 2010 to The Public Safety Research Group
(PSRG) to develop and provide a Master Plan for Emergency Medical Services (EMS) delivery
within the jurisdiction served by the Palo Alto Fire Department. The study is scheduled for
completion in May 2010. An informational CMR regarding this study including a comprehensive
scope of service was submitted to the Council on February 16, 2010 (CMR 137:10).
DISCUSSION
The City of Palo Alto provides a comprehensive fire department-based EMS delivery service to
the community comprised of paramedic ambulance transport, paramedics on first responder
engine companies and a Basic Life Support (BLS) ambulance that provides transport for inter
facility and paramedic downgrade patients. It is the sole fire-based EMS transport agency in
Santa Clara County. The overall goal of the Master Plan study is aimed to provide a current
evaluation of the City’s EMS services and to outline detailed recommendations for providing
adequate emergency medical services to the changing community.
In developing the plan, the contractor is reviewing and analyzing a variety of information
including but not limited to: historical records, organization and delivery models, statistical
transport data, policies and procedures, and finances. City staff has worked closely and diligently
with the contractor to provide the necessary data and information. Interviews were conducted
with department leadership, personnel, major stakeholders involved in the EMS community and
customer base to develop an understanding of the current EMS model and future service delivery
needs for this division of the Fire Department and the community. The current investigation and
data collection has focused on staffing and deployment, training, resource utilization, revenue
generation, projected growth rate, communications dispatch issues, and alternatives to system-
design configuration.
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CMR 201:10 PAGE 2 OF 2
On April 20, 2010 the PSRG consultant will provide a presentation to the Finance Committee
regarding the major points of their findings to date. At that point, approximately 75% of the
information will have been gathered for analysis. This presentation is will outline the key points
regarding the work already completed and analysis towards production of the final report,
community expectations, opportunities for improvements, response time and performance
analysis, paramedic unit comparisons, preliminary data findings, staffing suggestions, revenue
performance and preliminary general conclusions. Stanford-related issues will not be discussed
at this time. The final report will provide a more in-depth analysis of the above parameters and
recommendations / options for moving forward. At this point of the study, this is an opportunity
for the Finance Committee members to ask questions of the consultant and to provide any input.
The completed written study is scheduled for completion by mid-May 2010 and possibly sooner.
Upon completion of the EMS Master Plan, an Informational CMR will be submitted to present
the completed findings of the study. The contractor can be available to make a presentation to the
Council, if so desired, regarding the findings in their final report.
RESOURCE IMPACT
The PSRG contract was funded under existing program budget and staffing.
POLICY IMPLICATIONS
This project is consistent with existing City policies.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
This is an informational report only and CEQA review is not required.
DEPARTMENT HEAD: __________________________________
NICK MARINARO
Fire Chief
CITY MANAGER APPROVAL: ________________________________
JAMES KEENE
City Manager