Okaloosa County BOCC — February 4, 2014 — NBFCD ALS Agreement — reading text

Interlocal Agreement Advanced Life Support Fire Engine Partnership Program This Interlocal Agreement, entered into this day of , 2014, by and between the Okaloosa County Board of County Commissioners, Florida, a political subdivision of the State of Florida, hereinafter called the “County” and the North Bay Fire Control District hereinafter called “NBFCD”. Witnesseth ‘Whereas, the NBFCD and the County seek to enhance EMS service through a partnership; and Whereas, the NBFCD already responds to emergencies as First Responders along with Okaloosa County Emergency Medical Services (EMS); and Whereas, the Advanced Life Support (ALS) Fire Engine Partnership Program provides for an NBFCD Paramedic to provide ALS service; and Whereas, the NBFCD will operate the permitted fire engine(s) as ALS engine(s) only when appropriately equipped and staffed by NBFCD Paramedics; and Now, Therefore, in consideration of the above premises, and the mutual covenants, terms, and provisions contained herein, the County and NBFCD agree as follows: Section I: County’s Responsibility 1.0 The following specific services, duties, and responsibilities will be the obligation of the County, regarding the ALS Engine Partnership Program: 1.01 The County Department of Public Safety, Division of EMS, as sole licensed provider of advanced life support under Chapter 401, Florida Statutes (1999) and Chapter 64E-2, Florida Administrative Code (2001), is authorized to permit, under the County EMS license, mutually agreed fire engines as non-transporting ALS vehicles for the purpose of enhancing EMS responses. 1,02 The County Department of Public Safety, Division of EMS, agrees to provide the NBFCD with sufficient medical equipment, medications, drugs, and supplies to insure NBFCD’s non-transporting ALS vehicle is in full compliance with the Florida State Statute as it applies to ALS non-transporting vehicles. 1.03 The County Department of Public Safety will allow NBFCD paramedics to ride in County EMS vehicles for the purpose of required training and patient transport. Section UI: North Bay Fire Control District Responsibility 2.0 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 The NBFCD shall provide and perform the following specific services, duties and responsibilities regarding the ALS Fire Engine Partnership Program: The NBFCD must receive written authority from the County Department of Public Safety for each fire engine they wish to be State permitted in the ALS Fire Engine Partnership Program. The NBFCD will maintain the ALS Fire Engines permitted by the State at the NBFCD fire stations and will respond to EMS calls in accordance with the County Medical Director’s protocol The NBFCD paramedics will attend initial and ongoing training required by the County EMS Medical Director and approved by the Fire Chief. The NBFCD shall not operate the permitted fire engines as ALS engines unless appropriately equipped and staffed with NBFCD paramedics, Section II: Operating Procedures 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 The NBFCD paramedic will meet the same requirements and perform under the same authorization by the County EMS Medical Director as employees of the County EMS. Regardless of the organization (county, municipality, or fire district), all paramedics will have comparable performance expectations and will be subject to comparable remedies for infractions of rules, policies, procedures, and protocols. The County Medical Director reserves the right to withdraw, with just cause, privileges for functioning as a paramedic. Additionally, in the event a situation arises which will adversely affect the County’s ALS License, the Director of Public Safety, along with the NBFCD Fire Chief, reserves the right to withdraw privileges for functioning as a paramedic. Reasonable proof of the adverse effect will be provided in writing by the County. Disputes between the NBFCD Fire Chief and the Director of Public Safety shall be resolved by the County Administrator, and shall be subject to further appeal to the Okaloosa County Board of County Commissioners. If the first paramedic on the scene of a medical rescue call is from NBFCD, he/she shall be in charge of the patient care at the scene until the County EMS paramedic has arrived on scene and has accepted patient care responsibility. Both NBFCD and County paramedics shall work together to insure the best possible outcome for the patient. The NBFCD paramedic must act only within the scope of respective duties as directed by the County EMS Medical Director. 3.4 3.5 3.6 Section IV: 4.0 The NBFCD paramedic will follow medical treatment protocols approved by the County EMS Medical Director. The NBFCD Fire Chief or his designee may communicate directly with the County EMS Medical Director regarding the delivery of paramedic services under this Agreement. If such communications include any patient care related issue, then the County Department of Public Safety will be included in the coramunication. The County Department of Public Safety, acting through the EMS Medical Director, will conduct monthly Quality Assurance meetings to review EMS services. When such meetings include a review of any emergency response involving NBFCD personnel, the NBFCD Fire Chief or his designee will be notified and allowed to participate in all meetings of the Quality Assurance team conducting such review. Resolution of Conflicts If the two governing entities’ Standard Operating Procedures, chain of command, or any other unforeseen circumstances come into conflict regarding emergency medical patient care these issues will immediately be decided in the following manner: 1. First and foremost by the medical needs of the patient. 2. Should issues arise that are unavoidable, the chain of command, within each department will come together in an attempt to resolve those issues. The equivalent levels of each department will move up the chain of command if necessary. Section V: Agreement Term 5.0 5.1 5.2 This Interlocal Agreement shall remain in force and effect from the date first executed by both parties and shall terminate upon ninety (90) days written notice of termination by either party to the other. This Interlocal Agreement may be amended from time to time upon the mutual agreement of both parties acting through the NBFCD Fire Chief and the County Administrator. During the term of this Interlocal Agreement, the NBFCD agrees to provide the County Department of Public Safety with a ninety (90) day written notice of its intent to submit application for a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity. Section VI: Insurance 6.0 6.1 The NBFCD and County shall maintain insurance in the minimum amounts and types as required by Florida State Statutes, The NBFCD and County agree that either party may be self-insured on the conditions that all self-insurance must comply with all State laws and regulations. 3 6.2 6.3 The NBFCD and County will insure its respective employees for negligence, malpractice, errors, and omissions. NBFCD and the County are responsible for the action or inaction of their respective employees in any litigation regarding services provided under this Agreement. The NBFCD and County will provide Workers Compensation coverage for their respective employees as required under Florida law. The NBFCD and County acknowledge the possibility of third party claims. SECTION VII INDEMNITY AND HOLD HARMLESS 7.0 To the extent permitted by Florida law and as limited by the provisions of Section 768.28 Florida Statutes, NBFCD and the County agree to hold harmless and indemnify the other, their employees, and agents against any and all claims and damages by or on behalf of any person, employee, or legal entity arising from their respective negligent acts pursuant to this agreement. Nothing is intended to alter either party’s immunity in tort or otherwise impose liability on the NBFCD or the County when it would not otherwise by law be responsible. Section VIE: Miscellaneous 8.0 8.1 8.2. This Interlocal Agreement shall be governed by and construed under the laws of the State of Florida. In the event any litigation is instituted by NBFCD or County to interpret or enforce this Interlocal Agreement, the prevailing party in said litigation shall be entitled to collect and recover from the other party all court costs and other expenses, including reasonable attorney’s fees. Prior to its effectiveness, this Interlocal Agreement and any subsequent amendments shall be filed with the Clerk of Courts for the Circuit Court for Okaloosa County pursuant to FS 163.01 GD. The County shall file said agreement as soon as practical after approval and execution of both parties, In Witness whereof, the parties hereto have caused this Interlocal Agreement to be executed by their appropriate officials, as of the date first written. Attest: Clerk of the Circuit Court Board of County Commissioners Okaloosa County, Florida By: By: Gary J. Stanford, Deputy Clerk Charles K. Windes, Jr. Chairman Approved as to legal form: By: John R. Dowd, County Attorney Attest: By: Qa jl Title: i Date. /-/H- 14 North Bay Fire Control District By y>nenlO Deseo ames W. Boswell, Chairman