COUNTY OF SAN MATEO

Inter-Departmental Correspondence

Health Services Agency

DATE:

July 15, 2003

BOARD MEETING DATE:

August 5, 2003

TO:

Honorable Board of Supervisors

FROM:

Margaret Taylor, Director of Health Services

Barbara Pletz, EMS Administrator

SUBJECT:

Agreement with the State of California Emergency Medical Services Authority to Implement an EMS for Children (EMSC) Program Update and Expansion Program

Recommendation

Adopt a resolution authorizing the President of the Board to execute an agreement with the State of California EMS Authority to implement an EMS for Children (EMSC) Program Update and Expansion Program.

Background

The San Mateo County Emergency Medical Services Agency was awarded a two-year grant in 1993 to implement one of the first EMS for Children programs in California. This project included the development of pediatric protocols for pre-hospital care providers, consultative site visits to all local hospital emergency departments to evaluate their capabilities to care for children, and designation of three out-of-county pediatric critical centers.

Since the completion of the initial grant project, EMS has maintained the EMSC project but has lacked staff and other resources to expand the program.

Discussion

San Mateo County EMS has been awarded a grant from the California EMS Authority to update and expand the EMSC program. A second year of funding for this program is expected. The new grant will permit the program be improved to:

· Establish a mechanism for on-going management, evaluation, and quality improvement.

· Train paramedics in pediatric assessment and emergency management.

· Review and revise the pre-hospital pediatric treatment protocols.

· Develop, implement, and integrate a new EMSC component to serve children with special needs (e.g., nonverbal, dependent on medical equipment).

· Review the status of the three out-of-county pediatric critical care centers based upon current regulations and other relevant standards.

Vision Alignment

The grant agreement with California State Department of Health Services keeps the commitment of Ensuring Basic Health and Safety for All and goal number 5: Residents have access to healthcare and preventative care, and 7: Help vulnerable people - the aged, disabled, mentally ill, at-risk youth and others - achieve a better quality of life. The contract contributes to this commitment and goal because the grant will allow Health Services to ensure improved emergency medical care for children and to integrate services for children with special needs into the EMS Program.

Fiscal Impact

The term of the grant agreement is July 1, 2003 through June 30, 2004. The total amount of funding is $54,000. Revenue and expenditures for this grant funding will be included in the Health Service Agency final budget changes in September. Accepting these grant funds will not result in any Net County Cost.