Agenda

Return

C.10

To:	Contra Costa County Fire Protection District Board of Directors
From:	Lewis T. Broschard III, Chief, Contra Costa Fire Protection District
Date:	April 24, 2023

Contra

Costa

County

Subject:

Authorize Payment for SOS EMT Ambulance Staffing Costs

APPROVE	OTHER
RECOMMENDATION OF CNTY ADMINISTRATOR	RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE

Action of Board On: 04/24/2023

APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED

OTHER

Clerks Notes:

VOTE OF SUPERVISORS

AYE:

John Gioia, District I Supervisor
Candace Andersen, District II Supervisor
Diane Burgis, District III Supervisor
Ken Carlson, District IV Supervisor
Federal D. Glover, District V Supervisor

Contact:

Scott Wannamaker, Assistant Chief of EMS 925-941-3300

I hereby certify that this is a true and correct copy of an action taken and entered on the minutes of the Board of Supervisors on the date shown.
ATTESTED: April 24, 2023
Monica Nino, County Administrator

BY:	, Deputy

RECOMMENDATION(S):

Acting as the governing board of the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District, APPROVE and AUTHORIZE the Auditor-Controller, on behalf of the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District, to make payment to American Medical Response West in an amount not to exceed $119,534 for supplemental Emergency Medical Technician ambulance staffing costs during the period of January 2023.

FISCAL IMPACT:

100% CCCFPD EMS Transport Fund

BACKGROUND:

Emergency Medical Services (EMS) systems across the state, and even the country, have been struggling recently to maintain an adequate workforce. The Contra Costa County Fire Protection District's ambulance subcontractor, American Medical Response (AMR), is no different. They have not been able to hire enough Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) and Paramedics to keep up with local demand. AMR has had to mandatorily hold their personnel at an increased cost that they did not foresee when bidding on the District's contract. AMR has also offered other incentives to their employees in an effort to keep ambulances staffed. These are unanticipated expenses that AMR has absorbed. The District has worked with AMR management to identify other approaches to bring in additional employees to help supplement the ambulance workforce.











One of the ways identified was through a program called SOS. This program sends out personnel to areas that need additional help, but with an additional cost. SOS EMTs were sent to Contra Costa County and assisted with staffing for approximately two months until permanent employees could be hired and trained. This helped the District keep additional ambulances on the street to improve response times and service. AMR has been able to onboard the additional staff needed to discontinue the use of this program.

This invoice covers the January 2023 expenses associated with the increased cost of these personnel during the temporary use of the SOS program. These costs are not covered by the current contract between the District and AMR.

CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:

The Fire District is contractually obligated to pay this invoice. If this action is not approved, non-payment will constitute a violation of our contractual agreement.