Program Overview

The Emergency Medical Services (EMS) program’s purpose is to conduct emergency medical services research, manage and conduct EMS training, maintain EMS equipment inventories including pharmaceuticals, manage total quality improvement of EMS services, and serve as the District liaison to the San Mateo County Local Emergency Services Agency (LEMSA) as well as the District’s Designated Infection Control Officer (DICO).

Management Oversight

The EMS program is directed by the Division Chief of Training with oversight authority delegated to the Emergency Medical Services Manager. This program has one full-time equivalent personnel. This program contains expenses pertaining to general medical supplies and equipment purchases, general contract services, and overtime for training and program administration.

Goals and Objectives

• Interpret and make decisions in accordance with laws, rules, and policies.
• Manage all EMS Division related activities of the District including research, training, equipment, and oversight.
• Provide an on-going Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) Plan for objective and systematic evaluation.
• Provide a mechanism for evaluating and resolving identified problems.
• Participate in LEMSA’s process of system development, monitoring, and Quality Assurance.
• Develop and sustain relationships and open channels of communication with all county ALS providers, receiving hospital, and LEMSA personnel.
• Develop and sustain an open channel of communication with all personnel concerning all matters pertinent to EMS or infection control.

FY 2023-24 Accomplishments

• Purchased training equipment that is innovative and will assist in teaching techniques (mannikins and iSimulate gear).
• Purchased one Lucas device to replace outdated Lucas device.
• Purchased locks and equipment for the narcotic safe built by the Apparatus Committee in all front-line apparatus.
• Sponsored one line employees’ attendance at the Sacramento State Paramedic Program.
• Sponsored two-line employees’ attendance at the EMS World Expo with the intention of building a collaborative team for EMS training and concepts.

FY 2024-25 Program Initiatives

• Purchase training equipment that is innovative and will assist in teaching techniques and give our personnel the ability to practice scenarios that are realistic.
• Maintain appropriate EMS equipment for backup and training. Purchase one LP15 to replace a district-owned LP15 that is now outdated.
• Sponsor 2-line employees to attend the EMS World Expo and other EMS classes with the intention of building a collaborative team for EMS training and concepts.
• Sponsor EMS Manager to attend conferences and classes for professional development.
• Budget for all paramedics to attend the newly required Pre-hospital Trauma Life Support (PHTLS) classes; estimated cost of $100,000 total.
• Budget for an organization to host an in-house CPR class for line-personnel, Fire Prevention personnel, and Command Staff; estimated cost of $8400.00 (county required certification for line personnel).