[Scan-DC] COMING SOON: Mont. Co. EMS chase car pilot

[Alan Henney]

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Subject: Paramedic Chase Car - Test 

Over the past year and a half, the Operations Division and the EMS section has been evaluating our EMS deployment model.

One of our main goals is to ensure the on-scene arrival of an ALS provider within 8 minutes of dispatch of an ALS call.   We also have to ensure that we are using resources in an efficient manner.

During our study of the ALS component of our EMS system, we found that we still have some gaps in ALS response times and that we are over utilizing ALS transport units for known BLS calls.  

The proposed ALS delivery model for the future is that almost all transport units will be BLS, and all Engines will be Paramedic Engines.  The busier stations will also have Paramedic Chase Units (PCU’s) to supplement the Paramedic Engines.  Our PCU’s will be light duty vehicles with one or two paramedics, sets of ALS gear, SCBA, and PPE that will respond with transport units to ALS calls.  

The intent is to get a cot and the right number of paramedics and providers to our EMS calls with the minimum number of apparatus.

Accordingly, we will be placing ALS703, ALS708, ALS725, and ALS742 in service on or about April 20th to test the Paramedic Chase Unit concept.  

The PCU Test will run for about three months and will allow us to collect data to validate and/or fine tune the ALS delivery model for the future.  

ALS703 and ALS725 will be staffed with a single ALS provider.
ALS708 will have two ALS providers.
ALS742 will be staffed with two during the day and at least one at night.  

During the test, the existing Medic units at 3, 8, 25, R2 will be restaffed as Ambulances; therefore there will be no change in the numbers of transport units available from those stations.   

During the test, we will be evaluating:
ALS response times, 
The decline of heavy apparatus calls, 
ALS readiness and reliability, 
The rate of ALS triage and downgrades, and 
The provider and patient satisfaction.  

In the development and planning of this test, we have meet with the two representative organizations, required support sections (ECC/Fleet/etc), and started coordination with the station commanders and LFRD leadership at the test stations. These coordination efforts have lead to valuable input and delayed this organization wide announcement.

Plans are in place to provide station/shift level roll-out next week. Additional information will be forthcoming.

I ask that you remain as flexible as possible and as supportive as you can be.  I understand how difficult change can be, but as public safety leaders and providers, we need to objectively measure whether this method of delivery is better for the residents we serve.