Pursuant to Division 2.5 of the California Health & Safety Code (“Health & Safety Code”), the County has designated the Yolo County Health Department (now a part of the Health and Human Services Agency) to be the Local Emergency Medical Services Agency (“LEMSA”) for the purpose of the administration of emergency medical services (“EMS”) within the County. Division 2.5 of the Health and Safety Code confers specific authorities and responsibilities upon a LEMSA, including but not limited to developing a local plan through which it may establish one or more exclusive operating areas (“EOAs”) and, through a competitive process approved by the State Emergency Medical Services Authority (“State EMS Authority”), contracting with one or more ambulance providers for the provision of ambulance services in the designated EOA or EOAs pursuant to the local plan.
Yolo County EMS Agency (“YEMSA”) has developed a local plan, approved by the State EMS Authority, for the establishment of a single EOA covering the entire County, and the selection of a single ambulance provider to provide specified ambulance services, including Emergency Ambulance Services with basic life support (BLS), advanced life support (ALS), and critical care transport (CCT) for all areas within the EOA.
Following a comprehensive EMS system assessment that included a series of 8 partner workgroups and listening sessions including fire and dispatch agencies, hospitals, and local EMS providers, and the input of an Advisory Review Panel that included representatives from local Cities, Yolo County Fire Chiefs Association, Yolo County Auto Aid Chiefs Association, and both hospitals in Yolo County, YEMSA proceeded with a competitive bidding process for services as detailed in the Competitive Bid Process section below. Following the Competitive Bid Process and notice of intent to award issued to American Medical Response (AMR) West, YEMSA began developing a contract for the exclusive right to emergency ambulance services, Advanced Life Support (ALS), and Critical Care Transports with the input of a Contract Development Advisory Panel of partner representatives from the Yolo County Fire Chiefs Association, local Cities, and both local hospitals.
County Health and Human Services Agency and YEMSA staff, in coordination with County Counsel and the County Administrator’s Office, engaged AMR West in negotiations on the contract beginning December 6, 2023.
The Director of the Health and Human Services Agency and YEMSA are recommending to the Board of Supervisors to approve the award of the contract and enter into an agreement (Att. A. Agreement) with AMR West for the delivery of emergency ambulance services, Advanced Life Support, and Critical Care Transport in the exclusive operating area of Yolo County for a five (5)-year period, with a possible five (5)-year extension.
Performance Measures included in this Agreement are as follows:
The agreement includes extensive performance measures including, but not limited to:
- Response Time Standards
- Clinical Performance Standards
- Minimum Deployed Unit Hour Standards
- Vehicle Standards
- Personnel Standards
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