SUBJECT/RECOMMENDATION:
Title
Approve an amendment to the Emergency Medical Services ALS First Responder Agreement between Pinellas County and City of Clearwater to provide funding for an additional Clearwater Fire and Rescue full time equivalent (FTE) employee to provide enhanced EMS services, and authorize the appropriate officials to execute same. (consent)
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SUMMARY:
The Pinellas County Emergency Medical Services Authority (EMS Authority) is a special district created for the purpose of providing Emergency Medical Services (EMS) throughout Pinellas County, pursuant to Chapter 80-585, Laws of Florida, and Chapter 54, Article III, Pinellas County Code, as amended.
Pinellas County has contracted with various municipalities and independent special fire districts in the county to provide first responder services and has also contracted with an ambulance contractor to provide emergency and non-emergency transport services.
Through this contract, Clearwater Fire and Rescue will provide advanced life support services to the residents of the City of Clearwater and to individuals within the unincorporated area of Pinellas County that is located within the Clearwater Fire Control District.
The EMS Authority and Clearwater Fire and Rescue request this position to assist the Assistant Chief of EMS in EMS Training, Quality Assurance, Inventory Controls, and Continuing Education requirements. This position coordinates several management policies such as electronic patient care reporting, First Watch, First Pass, electronic controlled substance records, and restricted EMS supplies and equipment. These duties seek to ensure quality improvement initiatives are identified, developed, and effectively resulting in the highest quality of care given within the Clearwater Fire District and to the Pinellas County EMS system.
A 1st Quarter Budget amendment provides offsetting revenues and expenditures to fund $121,430 to provide personnel costs and $40,000 to provide a vehicle for this position. The department will use this funding for the vacant and currently unbudgeted deputy fire chief position and reclassify the position as an EMS Administrative Coordinator.
APPROPRIATION CODE AND AMOUNT:
The amendment to the EMS First Responder Agreement provides additional revenue to offset the personnel and vehicle costs incurred by Clearwater Fire & Rescue under this agreement.
Additional EMS Authority revenue of $161,430 in code 0-010-00000-338911-000-000-000 will offset additional personnel costs of $121,430 in code 0-010-01251-510100-526-000-0000 and $40,000 of vehicle acquisition costs in Capital Improvement project 0-315-91265-591000-581-000-0000.
USE OF RESERVE FUNDS:
N/A