EMSS Update
January 25th 2012

On January the 5th, 2012 The EMSS Board met at the WFD training grounds for a retreat.  During this retreat steps were taken in order to make the EMSS board more efficient and to become a player in the budget process with both city and county leaders.  In order to streamline the process the board has created a timeline for submittal of proposals to the board that coincides with the budget process.
September is the start and planned for September and October will be an annual retreat of the board to set goals for the year.  October thru December services is asked to develop strategies to meet those goals and begin work on Service Plans and Service Adjustment Plans.  December the board will review its ranking process for those plans. January and February, Services will provide those plans to the board for ranking.  February thru April, board evaluates and ranks Service Plans and Service Adjustment Plans.  April, board provides ranked recommendations to the City/County Managers.  May, Managers follow-up and feedback.  June thru July, review previous year Service Plans and Adjustment Plans performance for each service.  August, review and modify EMSS goals, indicators and standards for service.
The EMSS board set out a matrix to evaluate the proposed plans for each service to effectively rank them.  The primary goal is “Provide Seamless, Efficient, and Quality Pre-hospital Emergency Medical Care”.  Four perspectives are to be met: Customer Service, Business Processes, Financial Management and Employee Development.  Each of the Perspectives has three possible areas to meet and the more area met will mean a higher ranking in the evaluation process. 
On January the 25th 2012 the board met with the services affected by this process and solicited input or changes from those providers.  They were told that the Service Plans and Service Adjustment Plans would be the same format as the service provides to their managers during the budget process in an effort to streamline the process.  All services agreed to the plan.
One of the main goals for the board was to streamline the flow of information to the board.  This means that Bob Lamkey along with Ron Aaron and directors of all agencies are working on system that data from each service can be place together in a format to let the services and board know each step from time of emergency call to response to transport were accomplished and will include the outcome for the patient, post hospital.  There are currently meetings ongoing to accomplish this plan.
The EMSS board is hopeful to become a more effective player in guiding the city and county leaders in making more efficient, cost effective decisions affecting our citizenry as well as cut down on duplication of those services.  To make the services more streamlined and seamless in patient care activities.