HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolution - 2014-R0286 - Interlocal First Response Agreement - Lubbock County Hospital District - EMS - 08/28/2014RESOLUTION
13E IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LUBBOCK:
THAT the Mayor of the City of Lubbock BE and is hereby authorized and
directed to execute for and on behalf' of the City of Lubbock, an interlocal 1' first Response
Agreement between the City of'Lubbock, on behalf of its Fire Rescue Department, and
the Lubbock County Hospital District d/b/a UMC EMS to allow 1'()r coordination of
emergency medical service inside the city limits of the City of Lubbock, Texas. Said
Agreement is attached hereto and incorporated in this Resolution as, if fully set forth
herein and shall be included in the minutes of the Council.
Passed by the City Council this
A'17FEST:
i-eb cea Garza, City Secr4tary
APPROVED AS TO CONTENT:
August 28
GL C. ROUkRTSON, MAYOR
Mike Kemp, Chi f, Lubbock Fire Rescue Department
Q:\C'CDOCSW-S.Li-R-UMC—EMS-.7.25.2014.doe
I
First Response Agreement between
UMC EMS and Lubbock Fire Rescue
This Agreement is between the Lubbock County Hospital District d/b/a UMC EMS, ("UMC EMS") an EMS
provider licensed by the Department of State Health Services ("DSHS"), and the City of Lubbock, Texas
acting through the Lubbock Fire Rescue ("LFR"), an affiliated Advanced Life Support (ALS) First
Responder Organization, as defined in the Texas Administrative Code, Title 25, Chapter 157, §157.14.
The parties wish to coordinate emergency medical services inside the city limits of Lubbock, Texas.
The parties agree to the following terms and conditions:
1. LFR personnel will respond to medical emergencies inside the established city limits of Lubbock,
Texas. LFR agrees to respond to emergency medical requests in said area, 24 hours per day, every
day of the year to assist UMC EMS.
2. UMC EMS and LFR will receive 911 calls at the same time through multiple PSAP switchboards. LFR
agrees to send closest LFR first responder to the call.
3. UMC EMS and LFR agree to use radio channel Fire 1 for traffic monitoring when responding to a
medical call. This will allow communication between UMC EMS and LFR.
4. LFR will operate under medical protocols established by a committee of LFD and UMC EMS
personnel under the direction and final approval of the Medical Director. This group will be called
the "Lubbock Area Prehospital Consortium." The protocols established will be called the, "Lubbock
Fire Rescue Prehospital Treatment Protocols," herein referred to as the "LFR Treatment Protocols."
S. An agreed upon physician will serve as the Medical Director for both LFR and UMC EMS (herein
referred to as the Medical Director). UMC will enter into a separate written agreement with the
Medical Director for services. UMC shall be responsible for payment of compensation under a
separate written agreement. The duties of the Medical Director, specific to LFR, will include:
a. assisting with the development of LFR policies and procedures,
First Response Agreement: Amended and Restated
Page 1 of 8
b. overseeing competency testing and skills assessment of LFR personnel,
c. interacting with LFR personnel to understand LFR operations,
d. conduct case reviews of LFR responders as often as necessary to provide adequate
opportunity to maintain attendance goals set by the medical director,
e. when available, respond to city wide disasters and/or act as an on -scene physician
f. represent LFR issues or concerns to the UMC Vice President responsible for the UMC
EMS service,
g. other issues deemed necessary.
6. UMC EMS and LFR will be represented at all quality assurance meetings and other similar functions
regarding LFR/UMC EMS operations inside the City of Lubbock. Monthly meetings will include the
UMC EMS Director, the Medical Director, and LFR Chief or their respective designees to discuss all
operations between the services.
7. only personnel who are certified by DSHS will perform actual patient care that is not within the
normal scope of training for a Texas trained firef=ighter. When on an emergency medical scene, LFR
personnel will be readily identified as to their level of medical training and member service.
8. LFR will respond to all scenes code 3 unless otherwise dictated by LFR policy and procedures and as
dictated by Lubbock Police Department on stage back situations.
9. LFR will respond with all required equipment and supplies to be used in patient treatment. The
equipment and supplies used by LFR will be listed and approved by the Medical Director. All
equipment and supplies will be maintained in good condition and ready for an emergency response.
All LFR responses will be with Basic Life Support (BLS) equipment to support the patient until
Advanced Life Support (ALS) arrival via UMC EMS. Use of certain ALS equipment and procedures by
LFR personnel maintaining an advanced DSHS certification and in full compliance with all Medical
Director requirements will be done in accordance with and when indicated by the LFR Treatment
Protocols and with prior approval of the Medical Director. Qualified LFR personnel may perform ALS
care.
First Response Agreement: Amended and Restated
Page 2 of 8
10. A patient "hand-off' is the transfer of patient care from one medical provider to another. Effective
communication and cooperation is necessary for a safe and successful transition. In handing off the
care, the provider should give all appropriate information about the patient's condition and the care
that has been given. To the extent available, this should include: Patient's Age and Sex, Chief
Complaint, Level of Responsiveness, Airway Status, Breathing Status, Circulation Status, Physical
Exam Findings, History, and Treatment and Interventions.
It is the desire of both the LFR and UMC EMS to ensure patients receive care from a paramedic as
soon as it is safe and appropriate for a paramedic to provide patient care. Therefore, LFR and UMC
EMS agree to the following:
At a rescue scene, LFR shall have primary responsibility for a patient who is entrapped and requires
special rescue and extrication procedures, such as vehicle, confined space, trench or water
rescue. If UMC EMS has arrived on the scene first, UMC EMS shall hand off the patient to LFR for
rescue and medical care in the area of entrapment, if the area of entrapment is deemed unsafe by
LFR. Once LFR has extricated the patient, LFR shall hand off the patient to UMC EMS.
At all other scenes, UMC EMS shall have primary responsibility for the patient. If LFR has arrived on
the scene first, LFR shall hand off the patient to UMC EMS.
At all times, LFR and UMC EMS personnel shall provide such assistance to each other as may be
requested and appropriate to the provider's licensure and training. LFR agrees to accompany the
transporting ambulance to the receiving hospital at UMC EMS's request.
11. LFR will provide appropriate patient care transfer, patient information gathered, and care rendered
prior to UMC EMS arrival. LFR personnel will document all pertinent patient findings and treatments
in a patient record that will be maintained and completed by LFR at their respective facilities. LFR
First Response Agreement: Amended and Restated Page 3 of 8
will provide to UMC EMS upon written request a full written report within 1 business day of any
patient care record unless otherwise prohibited by local, state, or federal law.
12. All responders will be responsible for maintaining written and verbal confidentiality of any and all
protected patient information and taking reasonable precautions to prevent any unauthorized
disclosure of records provided or prepared under the terms of this agreement.
13. Each party shall be responsible for its own acts or omissions and for any and all claims, liabilities,
injuries, suits, demands, and expenses of all kinds which may result or arise out of any alleged
malfeasance or neglect caused or alleged to have been caused by that party or its employees or
representatives in the performance or omission of any act or responsibility of that party under this
agreement.
14. LFR personnel and UMC EMS personnel have the right to cancel each other in limited circumstances
which shall free the other responding units to be available for another call.
a. UMC EMS agrees to cancel LFR when UMC EMS arrives on scene of an EMS call prior to LFR
arrival and the LFR is not needed for patient care.
b. LFR agrees to cancel UMC EMS when LFR arrives on scene of a motor vehicle collision (MVC)
with no injuries; a false call; or structure fires when UMC is not needed for patient care.
c. Neither LFR nor UMC EMS will leave the scene of a medical emergency or fire call unless
agreement is reached between both parties on the scene and is confirmed with both EMS
and Fire dispatch.
d. Occasionally, Lubbock Police Department will cancel UMC EMS in route to the scene of a
MVC without apparent injures. However, LFR personnel on scene may later identify
potential injuries for which a potential patient denies treatment and/or transport. In these
situations, LFR will request UMC EMS presence at the scene to assess potential injuries and
to either transport the patient or have the patient document his/her refusal of treatment
and/or transport.
15. UMC EMS and LFR agree to exchange quarterly statistics for quality improvement. Representatives
from each organization will meet to go over any concerns and quality improvement issues.
First Response Agreement: Amended and Restated Page 4 of 8
Quarterly statistics will be comprised of skills proficiency percentages for personnel, response times,
number of responses, and any other Issues that may deal with personnel and/or patient care.
16. LFR will provide documentation of ongoing Advance Life Support (ALS) skills training and quarterly
competency testing of LFR personnel with advanced DSHS certification. This training meets the
same standards as required of UMC EMS personnel. LFR personnel with advanced DSHS certification
may complete quarterly competency testing and skills check -offs with LFR Field Training Officers,
UMC EMS Senior Field Training Officer or the Medical Director.
17. Case Reviews. UMC EMS must attend one live case review per quarter and view four video case
reviews per year. LFR must attend 1 case review per quarter to be held at LFR facilities. The Medical
Director will attend all case reviews held at LFR facilities.
18. Relationship of the Parties. This Agreement does not establish a partnership, joint venture, joint
enterprise, or employer/employee relationship between the parties, nor shall it be construed to do
so in any manner.
19. Waiver. The waiver by either party of a breach or violation of any provision of this Agreement shall
not operate as or be construed to be a waiver of any subsequent breach of any provision of the
Agreement.
20. Notice. All notices required or permitted to be given under this Agreement shall be sufficient if
furnished In writing, sent by registered mail, to the party's last known principal office. Principal
office for LFR will be the City of Lubbock, City Secretary's office.
21. Governing Law. This Agreement shall be interpreted, construed, and governed according to the
laws of Texas. Venue shall be in Lubbock, Lubbock County, Texas for all purposes.
22. Severability. In case any one or more of the provisions contained in this Agreement shall for any
reason be held to be invalid, illegal, or unenforceable in any respect, such invalidity, illegality, or
unenforceability shall not affect any other provision, and this Agreement shall be construed as if
such provision had never been included in this Agreement.
First Response Agreement: Amended and Restated
Page 5 of 8
23. Assignment. This Agreement shall be binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of the parties and
their respective heirs (as applicable), legal representatives, successors, and permitted assigns. The
parties acknowledge that their services are unique and agree that they may not assign this
Agreement nor any rights, interests, or obligations hereunder without the written consent of the
non -assigning party.
24. Entire Agreement. This Agreement supersedes all previous contracts, and constitutes the entire
agreement respecting the services described herein.
25. Amendments. This Agreement may be modified or amended only if such amendment is made in
writing and signed by the signatory parties hereto.
26. Compliance. The parties acknowledge that each is subject to applicable federal and state laws and
regulations, and policies and requirements of various accrediting organizations. Each party will
enforce compliance with all applicable laws, regulations, and requirements, and will make available
such information and records as may be reasonably requested in writing by the other party to
facilitate its compliance, except for records that are confidential and privileged by law. Each party
shall have or designate a Compliance Officer or liaison with whom compliance issues shall be
coordinated.
27. Access to Records. The parties agree that until the expiration of six years after the furnishing of
services provided under this Agreement, the parties will make available to the Secretary of the
United States Department of Health and Human Services ("the Secretary"), the United States
Comptroller General, or the Texas Department of State Health Services, and their duly authorized
representatives, this contract and all books, documents, and records necessary to certify the nature
and extent of the costs of those services. If a party carries out the duties of this Agreement through
a subcontract, the subcontract will also contain an access clause to permit access by the Secretary,
the United States Comptroller General, the Texas Department of State Health Services, and their
representatives to the related organization's books and records.
First Response Agreement: Amended and Restated Page 6 of 8
31.
28. Certification. Each party certifies that neither it nor its principals is presently debarred, suspended,
proposed for debarment, declared ineligible, or voluntarily excluded from participation in this
contract or any government program by any federal department or agency or by the State of Texas.
EACH PARTY WILL NOTIFY IMMEDIATELY THE OTHER PARTY if this status changes and the name of
any person who provides services under this Agreement or who has an ownership or controlling
interest or is an agent or managing employee who is convicted of a criminal offense related to the
person's involvement in a government program or is suspended, debarred, or excluded from
participation in a government program.
29. Non -Discrimination. Each party shall provide services without discrimination based on race, color,
national origin, age, sex, disability, or political or religious beliefs.
30. Confidentiality. This Agreement is public information. To the extent, if any, that any provision of this
Agreement is in conflict with Tex. Gov't. Code Ann. Chapter 552 et seq., as amended (the "Texas
Public Information Act") the same shall be of no force and effect. The parties further acknowledge
that they are governed by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and the
Texas Medical Records Privacy Act.
Term. This agreement is for a term beginning on the date that it is executed by all parties and
continuing through July 30, 2016. Each May, the parties will review this agreement. Any
amendments to this agreement shall be made in writing, signed by the parties, and submitted to
DSHS. This contract can be terminated by any party providing 60 day written notice with the
reasons of such. Either party may terminate this agreement at any time if patient safety is
jeopardized by continuation of the agreement.
EXECUTED this day of
FOR THE CITY OF LUBBOCK:
GLEN -C. RUBE -SON, Mayor
ATTEST:
First Response Agreement: Amended and Restated
2014.
QR THE LUBBOC 'COUNTY HOSPITAL
S ICTrt Bj U EMS ("UMC EMS"):
DAVID ALLISON,
President and CEO UMC Health System
Page 7 of 8
Rebe ca Garza, City Secr �tary
APPROVED AS TO CONTENT:
-IN IS--"
Mike Kemp, Chief, LubbockLire Rescue
APPROVED
John
GERA ROUTMAN, MD,
MedAal Director
First Response Agreement: Amended and Restated Page 8 of 9