COUNTY OF SAN MATEO

Inter-Departmental Correspondence

Health Services Agency

 

DATE:

August 26, 2004

BOARD MEETING DATE:

September 14, 2004

 

TO:

Honorable Board of Supervisors

FROM:

Charlene Silva, Director 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

In August 2003 your Board authorized the President to execute an agreement with the State of California EMS Authority for the first year of a two-year grant to implement an EMS for Children (EMSC) update and expansion program. The EMS Authority has now awarded the second year of funding for this grant.

 

Discussion

During the first year of the grant several improvements to the EMSC program have been accomplished including:

    Establishing a mechanism for the ongoing quality improvement of the pre-hospital care of children.

    The review and revision of pre-hospital pediatric treatment protocols.

    Training paramedics in pediatric assessment and emergency management.

The second year of the grant will further improve the EMSC program to include:

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

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

    Continue to train paramedics in pediatric assessment and emergency management including children with special needs.

 

Vision Alignment

The grant agreement with the State of California Emergency Medical Services Authority keeps the commitment of Ensuring Basic Health and Safety for All and goal number 5: Resident 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, 2004 through June 30, 2005. The total amount of the funding is $75,000. 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.