The Travis County Commissioners Court on Tuesday approved a $127,000 study to analyze the performance of the county’s portion of Austin-Travis County Emergency Medical Services. The study, to be conducted by the Virginia-based Management Advisory Group Inc., includes assessing EMS ground and air ambulance services, analyzing response times and finding ways to better utilize existing Travis County emergency services such as the fire departments outside of Austin and STAR Flight helicopters. It will also analyze the county’s financial agreement with the City of Austin for its emergency medical services.

The court approved the study as part of its consent agenda Tuesday without discussion.

But Steve Stewart, president of the Austin-Travis County EMS Employees Association, said he’s fearful that the study could recommend Travis County split off from the emergency medical service it has shared with the City of Austin since the agency’s inception in 1976.

Stewart said the study could encourage the county to put its emergency medical services under the umbrella of one or more of the 14 Emergency Services Districts outside the city, where Travis County wouldn’t have to pay for it — ESDs are independent taxing authorities. He said that could impact the level of medical care paramedics provide.

“There’s no continuity of service from ESD to ESD,” Stewart said. “They have different capabilities and funding levels.”

County Judge Sam Biscoe said he understands the concerns over the study but that splitting off EMS is unlikely. He said the study is merely a way to examine how efficient county emergency services are.

“Some people are fearful of” splitting, Biscoe said. “I don’t see that happening, though. But we need to challenge ourselves to be better.” Biscoe also said he was aware that some officials feared the study could recommend a privatization of emergency medical services, something he said he is against.

Currently, Austin and Travis County are served by the same EMS agency, which provides ambulance and medical services throughout the county. But fire services are the responsibility of the Austin Fire Department within city limits and 14 Emergency Services Districts around the county, including areas such as Pflugerville, Westlake, Manor and Oak Hill.

Officials from Management Advisory Group did not return calls for comment Tuesday. The consultants will provide their report within 120 days, the contract says.

Dr. Christopher Ziebell , director of emergency medicine at University Medical Center Brackenridge in Austin, praised the existing levels of care provided by Austin-Travis County EMS.

“I applaud (county commissioners) for wanting to strive to be better and better,” Ziebell said. “But I think the system in Austin-Travis County works very well. It’s a model that the rest of the country looks to for ingenuity.”

By Patrick George
AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF

Updated: 5:48 a.m. Wednesday, June 29, 2011
Published: 7:50 p.m. Tuesday, June 28, 2011

• Supported funding for peak-load ambulances necessary for providing augmented response capability, in known periods of high call volume, in strategic areas within the city. This is paramount to maintaining uniform geographic coverage by keeping ambulances in their assigned district, as much as possible, and concentrating additional coverage in the core area during periods of high call volume.
• Instrumental in expanding the City of Austin benefits plan to include significant others which gave many EMS Employees piece of mind knowing their love ones are able to be provided health coverage while away serving the community. This generates the positive initiative consistent with the needs and concerns of a significant portion of our population and the EMS mission to serve and respect equally all members of our community.
• Supporter of the innovative concept of the ATCEMS community health program that currently allows a community medic to visit, and follow up, with individuals with high frequency use of 911 for their needs. This has had an immediate positive impact by keeping EMS resources available while coordinating the needs of the individual with agencies more appropriate for their situation. This important program has already shown favorable statistical outcomes in cost savings and reductions of redundant calls by empowering patients with education and alternative services to improve their lives.

Randi Shade is endorsed by all three public safety entities (Austin EMS, Fire and Police Associations) due to her, and the other City Council Member’s, commitment to make optimal public safety and EMS in the City of Austin a priority.

Early Voting: Monday June 6 – Tuesday June 14
Election Day: Saturday, June 18

http://randishade.com/212/vote.htm

Perhaps the most important of endorsing organizations—especially when they work together—Austin’s three public safety unions announced their support for the three incumbent candidates for City Council on Thursday. Their endorsements are of particular importance to Council Member Randi Shade, the only one of the three running for re-election facing significant challengers.

Shade and Place 4 Council Member Laura Morrison are running for their second full terms. Place 1′s Chris Riley – who was elected to fill the seat Mayor Lee Leffingwell left for his current role — is seeking his first full term in office.

Riley and Morrison each have one official challenger. Though they had yet to file their paperwork as of Thursday afternoon, former Council Member Max Nofziger and Planning Commission member Kathie Tovo have each indicated that they will challenge Shade for her seat. The last day for candidates to file their forms is Monday.

Austin Firefighters Association President Bob Nicks told In Fact Daily that the official presence of Nofziger and Tovo in the race would have had little impact on his organization’s endorsement. “We’re talking with all three (incumbent) Council members on a regular basis,” he told In Fact Daily. “We’re very comfortable with how they make decisions and the access we have.”

The chairman of the Austin Police Association’s Political Action Committee Chris Perkins echoed that sentiment. “The Council members that are in right now, we’ve got a working relationship with them,” he said. “They’ve got a proven track record.”

Bryan Fitzpatrick, a representative of the Austin/Travis County EMS Political Action Committee characterized his organization’s support as “overwhelming.”

“These three Council members understand the need for a high-quality EMS system in our city today,” he said. “They’ve demonstrated their understanding of the issues that face the hard-working men and women of EMS.”

Perkins agreed. “Our endorsement … was an easy one,” he said. “Each Council member has a proven track record (of) placing their focus on what we consider the most important function within city government: That being the safety of the community and the citizens they represent.”

So did Nicks. “The reason (for our endorsement) is very simple,” he said. “You go to these different Council Members – Chris, Randi, and Laura – they listen to our issues, they consider it thoughtfully, and they come out with what’s best for Austin.

“There’s an old saying that high tide floats all ships,” he added. “It’s not just considerate to our needs as public safety servants but they’re concerned with everything that has to do with Austin.”

“It’s really easy to support the issues of importance to these men and women in our public safety units because it is so important to our citizens,” Shade said.

“We’ve seen over and over and over again that public safety issues are the biggest concern that people have,” she continued. “When they call 911, they know it’s got to work. Hopefully they don’t have to call it everyday, but it needs to work everyday.”

Morrison said that the endorsements were “a real honor.”

“I have so much respect for the men and women that serve in public safety,” she added.

Riley said that a thumbs-up from the public safety community meant “a lot.”

“Our public safety agencies perform such a vital function in this city,” he said. “I’m proud of what our agencies have been doing and I’m proud to have their support.”

Public safety union endorsements are the first round of announcements in the Council campaign. Endorsements by various local political organizations such as South Austin Democrats and similar groups will be made in about two weeks. If Shade’s campaign can keep most of those groups from endorsing neighborhood advocate Tovo, they will have achieved a major goal for March. While Nofziger was considered an environmentalist when he served in the 1990s, he has alienated some old supporters by opposing rail for the city.

Shade has help from strategist Mark Nathan and consultant Katherine Haenschen. On the other hand, consultant David Butts, an experienced manager of Democratic campaigns, is helping Tovo. Nofziger has not yet indicated who might help with his effort.

source:In Fact Daily 3-11-11