HomeMy WebLinkAbout04/21/2009 08 Firefighter/Paramedic Issue BUSINESS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
YAKIMA, WASHINGTON
AGENDA STATEMENT
Item No. 8
For Meeting Of April 21, 2009
ITEM TITLE: Consideration of Firefighter /Paramedic Issue
SUBMITTED BY: Dick Zais, City Manager
Charlie Hines, Fire Chief
CONTACT PERSON/TELEPHONE: Dick Zais, 575 -6040
SUMMARY EXPLANATION:
Please see attached information.
Resolution Ordinance Other (Specify)
e l Contract Mail to (name and address):
Phone:
Funding Source
APPROVED FOR SUBMITTAL: City Manager
STAFF RECOMMENDATION: This is a council policy issue.
•
BOARD /COMMISSION /COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION:
COUNCIL ACTION:
r' `L : ' 1 OFFICE OF THE CITY MANAGER
_9 1, r 1 � 129 North Second Street
' ` � ` j CITY HALL, Yakima, Washington 98901
® ` Phone (509) 575 -6040 •
MEMORANDUM
March 27, 2009
TO: The Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
FROM: Dick Zais, City Manager
RE: EMS Paramedic Issue
In the aftermath of the failure of the EMS levy a number of concerns have arisen from Council
members, the media and the public regarding the status of the paramedic issue within the fire
department. In particular, there have been concerns raised about the direction given to the staff
and approvals sought this past year with respect to the department's preparations for the
submittal and potential passage of the EMS levy by the voters as well as a threshold question on
whether or not there should be any form of paramedic assistance in the Fire Department in the
future, within existing resources.
We have researched the minutes of all of the Council Public Safety Committee meetings and
Council Study Sessions on this issue. The meetings that were held provided background from the
Chief and the Department on the issue. Many updates were also provided by the Chief during
the course of the year on this subject. However, there was not an explicit, formal motion from
0 either the Public Safety Committee members or the Council itself which gave authorization and
direction to the department or Chief to proceed with the approval and licensing process to enable
the paramedic program to proceed should the levy be passed by the voters. What did occur in
these meetings was a presentation from Chief Hines on the proposal and what it would take from
other emergency agencies to prepare for such a program, together with a message from him that
he would go forward with this process to be ready for the potential passage of the levy. In the
absence of any formal direction, Chief Hines felt the Council Public Safety Committee and
Council members overall were ok with him at least proceeding with the licensing /approval
process, and took the initiative and acted in good faith to secure the needed Emergency Agency
approvals and license to be able to start the program if the levy should pass.
I supported the Chief in his efforts noted above to prepare for the passage of the levy. However,
in hindsight, given the concerns and questions that have emerged, it is also clear to me that we
should have asked the Council for more formal direction on the process that was pursued by
Chief Hines to secure the approvals and licenses from the respective emergency agencies that
govern a paramedic program.
Since the levy failure, and media coverage, together with communications from Council
members, the Chief has endeavored to clarify and address this issue in several memo's to the
Council. Clearly the rejection of the levy has eliminated the funds for both the start -up of the
paramedic program and the resources to hire additional personnel for the department. However,
there are lingering questions about this issue for the future which need clear policy direction
from the Council. This is the purpose of the EMS discussion at the City Council meeting on
0 April 7, 2009 and for which the attached information packet has been prepared for your review,
and policy direction.
Yakima
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1994
Administration
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Fire Suppression
Fire &Life Safety .014 City of Yakima Fire Department (509)575 -6060
Division Fax 509 576 -6356
Investigation a 401 North Front Street, Yakima, WA 98901 ( )
Division t �►, Phone (509)575 -6140 (Investigation) www. yakimafire. com
Training' ?,
Communications 4� . S
•
Date: March 30, 2009
• To: Honorable Mayor, Members of City Council
Cc: Dick Zais, City Manager
From: Charlie L. Hines, Fire Chief
Subject: MAXIMIZING YFD RESOURCES FOR EMS .
• The result of the February 3, election made clear that a sufficient majority of the voters
participating in that election did not support an increase the EMS levy to hire 12 firefighters and
provide that up to 18 department firefighters also be trained as certified paramedics. Though
much can be said about what led to the outcome of the election, given the result, the concerns
which prompted the City Council to•place the EMS measure on the ballot remain unabated. •
With respect to the central and most costly aspect associated with the levy proposal, that being
adequate coverage through the hiring of 13 FTEs (12 firefighters and 1 dispatcher), the outcome
of the election effectively eliminates additional EMS funding as a means by which the City could
address the .problem. As an agency tasked in large part with providing emergency medical
- services to members of our community who are in medical distress it is appropriate now to assess
and consider options.
Without significant additional funding to the department, addressing the coverage issue is not •
possible. However on a very small scale, conditions are such that there exists an opportunity
with respect to the enhancement of emergency pre - hospital care to community members in need
of such services. In considering this opportunity the benefits must be weighed against any costs,
even if nominal.
. As you are aware, two Firefighters are also certified Paramedics. This presents us an excellent
opportunity to maximize our resources. In addition, this will ensure that a Paramedic gets to the
patient faster, regardless if they arrive by private ambulance, or fire engine. This is critical to the
survivability of those citizens who are in acute medical distress.
From a cost - standpoint, this proposal would be very cost effective; in fact all costs anticipated
III with this proposal can be easily absorbed within the current EMS budget.
•
110
One Time Start-up Costs
• Monitor/Defibrillator, charger, extra battery, carrying case $20,000*
• Equipment/Meds $5,000*
• Miscellaneous (double lock safe, storage unit etc.) ...$5,000
Annual Costs for Two Firefighter/Paramedics
• Replenish equipment/meds $3,000
• Skill pay (negotiated) per yr. x 2 ** ...$5,000- $7,200
* Medical Salesperson just called me this morning stating that their original quote was too high.
They will be sending a revised quote (seems like they are anxious to make a deal).
** This proposal is to allow our two certified Firefighter /Paramedics to administer their life-
saving skills on our citizens. There are currently no Firefighter openings in the YFD. Typically,
one or two Firefighters retire per year. A recent survey indicated that no one is planning on
retiring in `09 or `10. There are not sufficient funds currently in the budget to hire any additional
personnel. Consequently, YFD is unable to send any Firefighters to Paramedic school.
Each Firefighter /Paramedic will be assigned to an engine company on a different shift. They will
share the same Paramedic equipment (similar to the way they share air packs, hose, axes etc.).
All projected costs with this proposal can be absorbed within the current EMS budget. As you
recall, EMS funds are restricted to EMS services, and as such are separate and apart from the
city's general fund.
The public benefit of utilizing the advanced life- saving skills of the two Firefighter /Paramedics
on staff will be apparent at each incident to which one of these employees responds where these
skills are required, particularly at events where the YFD engine is the first to arrive or multiple
casualties exist.
This will significantly improve the chances of survival of those residents to whom a YFD
Firefighter/Paramedic responds.
This is an example of increasing efficiency and delivering better results to the customer (tax
payers) without increasing taxes.
•
With all other approvals obtained, and the question of funding from additional EMS levy
revenues decided, the only issue to decide is the use of the two Firefighter/Paramedics, and
within that issue there are but two alternatives:
1. Utilize and maximize all available resources by allowing our two Paramedic
certified Firefighters to administer their life - saving skills on our citizens. This will
significantly improve the chances of survival of those residents to whom a YFD
Firefighter/Paramedic responds.
OR
2. Require that the two certified Firefighter/Paramedics on staff refrain from
administering life- saving paramedic skills to patients during critical emergencies
and instead, wait for the ambulance to arrive.
As a 33 year Fire Service professional (13 as a Paramedic) and your Fire Chief, I have a moral
and ethical obligation to take advantage of all resources available to the department in providing
the greatest possible benefit in terms of service to the public. I strongly recommend
implementing the first alternative.
• I will continue to evaluate and explore alternatives that will maximize and enhance our ability to
efficiently serve the public; We are anxiously awaiting clarification and direction from the
council on this important matter.
1111
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Yakima City Council Meeting, April 21, 2009
Public Meeting — Item #8: Consideration of Firefighter/EMS issues
Subject matter — Consideration of Firefighter/EMS issues
NEEDS vs. WANTS
NEED: Up to 12 more Firefighter/EMT's:
There is no doubt that due to annexation our city has outgrown the
present size of our fire departments personnel and that there is a definite
need additional firefighter/EMT's.
NEED: What to do with two (2) presently trained
Firefighter/Paramedic's
It is my recommendation that you find a way to keep both of the
trained Firefighter/Paramedic's on staff and utilize their skills and training to
better serve the citizens of Yakima. This, as our Fire Chief has already
stated, he can do within his existing budget.
NEED: A strong policy language that the City "SHALL NOT" vs.
"WILL NOT" transport patients now or in the future without
presenting it to the general public for input and/or vote.
This is something that should be discussed with all parties prior to any
policy writing.
WANT: To have a Firefighter/Paramedic on every fire truck to give the
citizens of Yakima the best possible emergency care when
needed.
This is a very good idea, but during these economic times is not
feasible. It also needs to be discussed in more depth, given more time to
digest, and a working relationship between our fire department and the
private sector ambulance companies developed regarding paramedics,
paramedic -in- charge (PIC) and transportation.
I am in favor of the paramedic program, but it needs to be phased in.
RECOIVIlVIENDATION:
It is therefore my recommendation to the City Council that a- joint
meeting between the City Council Public Safety Committee representatives,
Fire Chief, and the two (2) private sector ambulance company
representatives meet together to discuss /resolve these issues and report back
to the City Council with a recommendation for final resolution.
Discussion of facts presented...
During many of the meetings held by the City Council I have heard
the fact presented that the Fire Department is first on scene 50% of the time
and that this merits consideration to train the fire department personnel in
order to have a paramedic on every fire truck to better serve the citizens of
Yakima., The 50% fact might be true, but I believe it to be only part of the
facts. What seems to be missing are answers to the questions about delay.
If either the fire department or the ambulance is first on scene, what is
the amount of time before the other shows up? What about dispatch ? Does
all or most of the emergency calls go through the 911 center and if so, who
gets dispatched first? This can also have an impact on who has the
advantage to be first. The Fire Chief is correct when he stated that the
location of the equipment, fire truck or ambulance, plays a part in the
response. So therefore, the 50% argument for or against might or might not
have a play in resolving this part of the discussion.
HISTORY: Basic First Aid training to EMT's to Paramedics
Prior to 1972 the only requirements to be an ambulance
driver /attendant was to be Basic First Aid trained. In 1972 the two
ambulance companies, Sun Valley Ambulance and Yakima Ambulance
together upgraded their staff to EMT's. This was done through their staff
volunteering their time to train and study and by a request to the physicians
and specialists volunteer their time and expertise to train us. Two of the
physicians were heart specialist and surgeon Dr. Twist and Gynecologist
Dr. Harrington, Sr. Arrangements were made with YVCC for a classroom
and our training began. There were two ambulance companies and also a
few firefighters that took this training. I was one of those first trained
EMT's with Sun Valley Ambulance service and received my certification on
May 9, 1972. Following that training, a few personnel continued to train
and became the first paramedics in Yakima somewhere between the end of
1972 and the beginning of 1973. Since then, it seems that our fire
department has trained all of its firefighters as EMT's and worked well the
two ambulance companies in Yakima, who now have maintained
paramedics on their ambulances.
•
The future for Yakima is in fact to have a paramedic on each truck and that
needs to be done as resources allot themselves to attain this goal. It took
over 30 years to get here today, it should not take another 30 years, but it
also cannot be done immediately.
Thank you,
•
William R (Bill) Duerr
3206 W Yakima Ave
Yakima, WA 98902 -2765