| AGENDA ITEM #: 1. DATE: 05/10/2021 AI #:241 |
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CITY COUNCIL ACTION REPORT
| SUBJECT: | CRISIS MEDICAL RESPONSE VEHICLE PROGRAM |
| STAFF PRESENTER(S): | Paul Luizzi, Fire Chief |
SUMMARY:
The Crisis Medical Response Vehicle Program would provide crisis response, along with behavioral health “first aid” to families during certain types of incidents such as, but not limited to, drownings, cardiac arrest, house fires, behavioral health emergencies, and traumatic injury calls. These services would be provided both at the scene or at the hospital as needed. The team will also provide community paramedicine and Treat and Refer services to our most vulnerable citizens. The proposed service area for the unit would be Goodyear and Litchfield Park.
Recommendation:
Staff will present the Crisis Medical Response Vehicle program to seek Council’s input and direction on their vision for the response vehicle utilization. (Paul Luizzi, Fire Chief)
FISCAL IMPACT:
The total estimated program budget of $348,200 includes personnel salaries for 2 employees (Firefighter/Paramedic and Licensed Social Worker) estimated at $233,800, one-time costs for the vehicle, equipment, work station estimated at $102,600, and finally on-going operational costs and vehicle insurance estimated at $11,800.
The initial annual revenue for the Treat & Refer program through Arizona Cost Containment Health System (ACCHS) is estimated at $57,000.
The initial annual revenue for the Treat & Refer program through Arizona Cost Containment Health System (ACCHS) is estimated at $57,000.
BACKGROUND AND PREVIOUS ACTIONS:
Over the last 3 years, we have experienced an average 6% increase in total call volume throughout the entire city. Emergency Medical Services (EMS) calls make up 72% of that call volume. From 2019-2000 we have seen a 59% increase in call volume just for behavioral health emergencies. The current state uses a paramedic engine to respond to all EMS calls including behavioral health and crisis emergencies. This crisis medical response vehicle would have a multi-pronged approach goal of addressing crisis response and behavioral health emergencies, community paramedicine, and treat and refer patients. Treat and Refer is a new concept adopted by Arizona DHS and ACCHS. The program assists customers who have experienced a healthcare event and have accessed the 911 system, but whose illness or injury does not require an ambulance transport to an emergency department based on the clinical information available at the time.
STAFF ANALYSIS
Currently in the Automatic Aid system, there are 9 Crisis Response (CR) vehicles which cover the entire automatic aid system. Due to the large response area, crews currently wait from 45-60 minutes on a scene before a unit may respond and during peak times a vehicle may not be available at all. The closest CR vehicles are in Surprise and Glendale. Using the CR vehicle dispatch criteria, the following incidents were identified as potential CR vehicle responses over the last 3 years within the City of Goodyear;
In addition, the CR vehicle program supports the City’s Strategic Action Plan in several ways. The goal of the program would be to reduce police emergent unit dispatches to behavioral health incidents, reduce the frequent users of the 911 system for non-emergent needs, and put the initial response company back in service within a shorter amount of time from dispatch. The program enhances customer service by delivering medical service referrals, behavioral health services during high-stress incidents, and provides critical support needed within the community. Apart from assisting residents, the CR vehicle will also enable fire crews assigned to these incidents to stay in their primary response area.
The CR vehicle would be housed at a fire station and dispatched just like any other fire apparatus. The vehicle will operate during peak call times (9am-9pm) and be staffed during the busiest days of the week.
| Calendar Year | Incident Count |
| 2018 | 665 |
| 2019 | 696 |
| 2020 | 718 |
In addition, the CR vehicle program supports the City’s Strategic Action Plan in several ways. The goal of the program would be to reduce police emergent unit dispatches to behavioral health incidents, reduce the frequent users of the 911 system for non-emergent needs, and put the initial response company back in service within a shorter amount of time from dispatch. The program enhances customer service by delivering medical service referrals, behavioral health services during high-stress incidents, and provides critical support needed within the community. Apart from assisting residents, the CR vehicle will also enable fire crews assigned to these incidents to stay in their primary response area.
The CR vehicle would be housed at a fire station and dispatched just like any other fire apparatus. The vehicle will operate during peak call times (9am-9pm) and be staffed during the busiest days of the week.