| Recommendation 75. Partner with CARS to review medical calls for service and evaluate scheduleEfficiency Study Implementation Plan |
Description |
City Staff and leadership from the Charlottesville-Albemarle Rescue Squad (CARS) have recognized the need for a new, strategic approach to the delivery of EMS (Emergency Medical Services) transport services in the City. Implementation of the EMS System Improvement Strategy will help to ensure the provision of timely, efficient, and effective EMS transport services for the community. Funding for the new strategy will be provided in large part through the implementation of an EMS Cost Recovery Program.
Since 1960, the Charlottesville-Albemarle Rescue Squad (CARS), an all-volunteer, not-for-profit organization, has been the primary provider of EMS transport services in the City. Since 2014, the Charlottesville Fire Department (CFD) has provided staffing support to CARS through a Memorandum of Understanding. This supplemental staffing model has provided some stability to daytime CARS staffing. However, several factors make the current approach less than optimal, including increased call demand, challenges with developing and retaining experienced volunteer EMS Advanced Life Support (ALS) providers, increased costs associated with the delivery of more complex EMS care, and decreasing community contributions to CARS annual fund drive. Over the course of the last 18 months, City staff and CARS leadership have collaborated to develop a comprehensive strategy that will add needed EMS transport capacity and provide for the more consistent availability of ALS providers at the medic-level. A volunteer-career combination EMS system will provide the needed EMS transport and ALS capacity while leveraging both the continued commitment of CARS volunteers and the consistency in staffing provided by CFD career firefighter-EMT’s and firefighter-medics. The focus of the combination EMS transport system will be on the provision of high-performance EMS while ensuring the health and safety of the community and its responders. Funding for the City of Charlottesville Emergency Medical Services System Improvement Strategy, which will be largely provided through the implementation of an EMS Cost Recovery Program, will ensure adequate EMS transport capacity in the following ways: supporting three additional full-time sworn firefighter-EMT positions; providing operational funding for the Charlottesville-Albemarle Rescue Squad; and providing for one civilian EMS billing specialist/privacy officer.
Status | |
The contract with the billing vendor (Digitech) was executed in March 2018. The Billing Specialist Position (EMS Program Specialist) was filled mid-March 2018 by an internal City candidate.
The implementation phase of the EMS Cost Recovery Program is complete and included mandated privacy training (HIPPA) that continues on an annual basis; build out and legal review of all program policies and procedures; acquisition and deployment of Mobile Data Computers and supportive technology for both CFD & CARS units. Additionally, patient care documentation training for EMS providers and a marketing plan build out were completed.
The billing process and implementation are complete with final approval from Medicare in place.
Owner(s) |
Charlottesville Fire Department
Charlottesville Albemarle Rescue Squad
Gantt Chart |