To protect and improve the health and safety of the people in San Benito County through the provision of high-quality emergency and disaster medical services with reasonable costs, community involvement, continuous evaluation, injury and illness prevention programs, and anticipatory planning.

DEPARTMENT/DIVISION OVERVIEW

San Benito County Emergency Medical Services (EMS) is a division of the San Benito County Office of Emergency Services and is responsible for managing the delivery of ambulance service countywide and coordinating all EMS system participants within the county. EMS is does this through plan development, implementation of policies, and monitoring & evaluating all local EMS system partners including Ambulances, Fire Department based EMS, Air ambulances, etc.

EMS accomplishes its responsibility of providing ambulance service through a cooperative agreement with American Medical Response (AMR).

The Medical Health Operational Area Coordinator program is part of the State of California Disaster Medical Response Plan. The plan is designed to facilitate communication, situational awareness and assistance across operational areas within Region 2 of the California Medical/Health Mutual Aid System.

The San Benito County Emergency Medical Health Operational Area Coordinator (MHOAC) is a position that is housed within the San Benito County EMS Agency. The MHOAC is committed to protecting and safeguarding the residents of San Benito County. Communication and early notification are key components to successfully manage any large-scale emergency. The system is intended to aid hospitals, Emergency Medical Services (EMS) providers, skilled nursing facilities, laboratories, physician offices, veterinary facilities, and others.

The MHOAC played a large roll during the COVID pandemic, including providing testing supplies and therapeutics to the health care community.

• Continue in-person training
• Provide community education/outreach with hands-only CPR, Narcan training & Stop the Bleed training
• Review the Protocols, Policies and Procedures manual adding new policies and updating the manual in its entirety
• Draft & submit the 2023 Annual Report to the State EMS Authority and present to Board of Supervisors

• Continued to train first responders on Narcan use
• Drafted Medical Health Operational Area plan
• Received approval from the State EMS Authority on 2022 EMS Report
• Introduced three new ambulances to the EMS system
• Worked with AMR on ambulance (air & ground) transport membership for the community

• Longevity/existence of local hospital
• Financial obligation if hospital closes
• Retaining staff (internal and external)
• Medical Director – exclusive to EMS

• Local hospital
• 911 ambulance contract
• Annual Exercises & Drill/Training