The Scott County Health Department and the Scott County Board of Supervisors have commissioned a comprehensive study of the emergency medical services system (EMS) in Scott County to begin on August 28, 2013. The Tri-Data division of System Planning Corporation, a nationally recognized authority in EMS, Fire and Public Safety, will conduct the study. The project period for the study is 24 weeks, with a report expected by March 2014.
The existing operations will be assessed to determine strengths and opportunities for immediate and future improvement. The goal of the study is to provide an analysis of the providers in the system and to create a long-range plan for the EMS system in Scott County. The methodology for the assessment will include an examination of clinical care, operational performance, financial performance, legal issues, system structure, benchmark data, and community awareness. Stakeholders, including EMS agencies and medical directors, fire departments, first responders, medical facilities, communications and dispatch agencies, local and state government officials, and other interested parties, will be interviewed by consultants.
"The last time an examination of the system was performed was in 1989", said Edward Rivers, Director of the Scott County Health Department. The Health Department is responsible for administration of Chapter 28 of the Scott County Code of Ordinances, which licenses and regulates EMS providers. "The landscape of the emergency medical service world has changed quite a bit in the last 24 years, and we wanted to have acknowledged experts guide us in crafting a plan to ensure that the EMS system in Scott County can continue to perform at a high level into the future. Overall, we want to improve patient outcomes and better serve the citizens of Scott County".
One particularly important issue is the effect of the changes that the Affordable Care Act may have on EMS agencies. "In order for our EMS agencies to remain capable, we must ensure that we understand how reimbursement models will affect their financial stability", said Rivers.
