Title
Fire Department Medical Direction Contract Extension (Ordinance S-51948) - Citywide
Description
Request to authorize the City Manager, or his designee, to execute an amendment to Contract 152101 with International Medical Direction LLC to extend the contract term for one year for the provision of Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Medical Direction and related services for the Fire Department’s EMS Program. Further request to authorize the City Controller to disburse all funds related to this item. The additional expenditure will not exceed $567,779.
Report
Summary
The Phoenix Fire Department (PFD) is required to have medical direction for the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) program including its Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) and Emergency Medical Technician-Paramedic (EMT-P) programs.
The Medical Director is responsible for: establishing the overall medical direction for patient care in accordance with state rules and regulations; establishing standards for basic and advanced training; providing continuing education programs for all EMS personnel; establishing appropriate medical protocols for all operational phases of the basic and advanced life support programs; and establishing policy on the selection and use of medications, supplies and medical equipment in coordination with the Fire Department.
The Medical Director is also responsible for the management and coordination of online direction to PFD paramedics and for providing oversight to other physicians that may be used to provide medical direction to PFD paramedics while they are working in the field.
In addition, the State of Arizona requires that any agency that provides medical transport to patients (to the hospital) must have medical direction services. Only then can an agency such as Phoenix Fire receive a “certificate of necessity” from the State and provide emergency transportation (ambulance) services.
PFD requests an extension of the current Medical Direction contract for one year to allow Finance time to complete the competitive procurement for a new Medical Direction contract without interrupting operations.
Contract Term
Upon approval, the contract will be extended through June 30, 2026.
Financial Impact
Upon approval of $567,779 in additional funds, the revised aggregate value of the contract will not exceed $2,815,168. Funds are available in the Fire Department’s budget.
Concurrence/Previous Council Action
The City Council previously reviewed this request:
- Fire Department Medical Direction, Ordinance S-46583 on May 6, 2020.
- Fire Department Medical Direction, Ordinance S-50011 on June 28, 2023.
Department
Responsible Department
This item is submitted by Assistant City Manager Lori Bays and the Fire Department.