Versión en español a continuación. Special Meeting of Austin – Travis County Emergency Medical Services Advisory Board February 3, 2021 Austin – Travis County Emergency Medical Services Advisory Board to be held February 3, 2021 with Social Distancing Modifications Public comment will be allowed via telephone; no in-person input will be allowed. All speakers must register in advance (February 2, 2021 by noon). All public comment will occur at the beginning of the meeting. To speak remotely at the February 3, 2021 Austin – Travis County Emergency Medical Services Advisory Board Meeting, members of the public must: •Call or email the board liaison at 512-972-7148 or vivian.holmes@austintexas.gov no later than noon, (the day before the meeting). The information required is the speaker name, item number(s) they wish to speak on, whether they are for/against/neutral, and a telephone number or email address. •Once a request to speak has been called in or emailed to the board liaison, residents will receive either an email or phone call providing the telephone number to call on the day of the scheduled meeting. •Speakers must call in at least 15 minutes prior to meeting start in order to speak, late callers will not be accepted and will not be able to speak. •Speakers will be placed in a queue until their time to speak. •Handouts or other information may be emailed to vivian.holmes@austintexas.gov by Noon the day before the scheduled meeting. This information will be provided to Board and Commission members in advance of the meeting. •If this meeting is broadcast live, residents may watch the meeting here: http://www.austintexas.gov/page/watch-atxn- live Reunión del Austin – Travis County Emergency Medical Services Advisory Board FECHA de la reunion February 3, 2021 La junta se llevará con modificaciones de distanciamiento social Se permitirán comentarios públicos por teléfono; no se permitirá ninguna entrada en persona. Todos los oradores deben registrarse con anticipación (February 2, 2021 antes del mediodía). Todos los comentarios públicos se producirán al comienzo de la reunión. Para hablar de forma remota en la reunión, los miembros del público deben: • Llame o envíe un correo electrónico al enlace de la junta en 512-972-7148 or vivian.holmes@austintexas.gova más tardar al mediodía (el día antes de la reunión). La información requerida es el nombre del orador, los números de artículo sobre los que desean hablar, si están a favor / en contra / neutrales, y un número de teléfono o …
AUSTIN – TRAVIS COUNTY EMS ADVISORY BOARD MEETING MINUTES WEDNESDAY, November 6, 2019 The Austin – Travis County EMS Advisory Board convened on November 6, 2019, 15 Waller Street, in Austin, Texas at 10:03 a.m. Board Members in Attendance: Tracy Dalbosco, Chris Ziebell, Lisa Harris, John Villanacci, Janice Bray Board Members Absent: Robert Ugaste, Jerry Staton Other Attendees: Travis Baker, Julie Potrykus, Vivian Holmes, Jasper Brown, Jason Pickett, Charles Brotherton 1. CALL TO ORDER – November 6, 2019 The meeting was called to order at 10:03 a.m. 2. QUORUM DETERMINATION A quorum was met and the meeting proceeded. 3. REVIEW AND APPROVE MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING Motion: The minutes for the regular meeting of August 7, 2019 were approved on a motion by Board Member Villanacci and seconded by Vice Chair Ziebell on a 5-0 vote. 4. RECEIVE CITIZEN COMMUNICATIONS/COMMENTS None. 5. ELECT OFFICERS FOR 2020 Chair Dalbosco opened the conversation to consider officer elections and Board Members discussed. Motion: Board Member Villanacci motioned for Tracy Dalbosco to be re-elected as Chair and Dr. Christopher Ziebell to serve another term as Vice Chair; seconded by Board Member Harris on a 5-0 vote. 6. REVIEW AND ADOPT 2020 BOARD MEETING SCHEDULE Board Members discussed the schedule for 2020 and reviewed budget dates that would allow opportunity for the Board to make recommendations to City Council and Travis County Commissioners Court for the FY2020 Budget. Motion: Board Member Villanacci motioned to approve the schedule of first Wednesday of each quarter from 9:30 a.m.-11:30a.m., seconded by Board Member Harris on a 5/0 vote. 7. REVIEW OF SYSTEM REPORTS • Vice Chair Ziebell asked that the Board be shown reports in order to review, provide feedback, and help make improvements. There was a consensus amongst Board Members with being able to look at reports where improvements can be made. • Board Member Harris suggested that members take the next three months to review what is on the EMS dashboard and go from there on deciding what reports they would like to see regularly. This information could be presented to staff at the February 5, 2020 meeting. Chief of Staff Brown offered for the Board to hold a special meeting to review all the reports. EMS has limited resources, therefore narrowing down which reports the Board wants to see would be helpful. 8. RECEIVE UPDATES FROM SYSTEM AGENCIES REPRESENTATIVES: a) Medical Director’s Report: Mark Escott, …
M E M O R A N D U M TO: Public Safety Commission City of Austin Firefighters', Police Officers' and Emergency Medical Services Personnel Civil Service Commission Austin-Travis County EMS Advisory Board Office of the City Auditor FROM: DATE: SUBJECT: Request for Input on Mental Health Care for First Responders (Resolution No. Rey Arellano, Assistant City Manager January 25, 2021 20190619-092) The purpose of this memo is to request your input regarding mental health care for first responders as directed by Council Resolution No. 20190619-092, which highlights the growing concern regarding mental health issues and the significant impact they have on the overall wellness of public safety first responders. The Resolution directed the City Manager to develop a report that thoroughly explains and identifies gaps and opportunities for improvement. The Resolution further directed the City Manager to obtain input from your Commission/Board/Department on any gaps or areas of improvement. I would request your feedback during your February 2021 board meeting, or by the end of the next week after your respective Commission/Board meeting, or by February 19, 2021. The attached report (Attachment A) provides an overview of the following areas: 1. Current options available to first responders to support and manage mental health needs; 2. The current state of health care insurance coverage for first responders; 3. Maintaining privacy and protecting first responders from retaliation for disclosing personal mental health conditions and needs; 1 4. Law enforcement best practices and innovations, pre-screening and ongoing 5. Areas of improvement and next steps; and 6. First responder statements about the unique, on-the-job experiences they deal with evaluations; daily. The City Manager’s Office engaged the three public safety departments, Human Resources Department, staff psychologists, first responders, and public safety Association presidents to receive feedback. In addition, the Office of Medical Director reached out to the Dell Medical School and EMS reached to the Capital Area Council of Governments (CAPCOG) to gain their feedback on this important topic. The gaps identified by stakeholders include the need for a contracted psychiatrist to provide psychiatric treatment; City’s insurance limitations with connecting to mental health providers and substance abuse treatment; mental health days for first responders; additional Peer Support program funding, support and activities; and the need for enhanced training for leadership within the departments in understanding the mental health needs of their employees. Staff had the opportunity to meet with first responders, Associations and the …
AUSTIN – TRAVIS COUNTY EMS ADVISORY BOARD MEETING MINUTES WEDNESDAY, February 3, 2021 The Austin – Travis County EMS Advisory Board convened on February 3, 2021, in Austin, Texas at 9:30 a.m. Board Members in Attendance: Tracy Dalbosco, John Villanacci, Janice Bray, Jerry Staton, Shandel Milburn, April Geruso, Tim Ruttan Board Members Absent: Tim Mercer Other Attendees: Ernesto Rodriguez, Jasper Brown, Kerri Lang, Andy Hofmeister, Teresa Gardner Mark Escott, James Kempema, Jeff Hayes, Patricia Bourenane, Keith Simpson, Vivian Holmes, Ashley Voss-Leibig, Charles Brotherton, Darren Noak, Michael Benavides, Rick Randall, Rob Vires, Ronnelle Paulsen, Wendy Rodriguez CALL TO ORDER – The meeting was called to order at 9:38 a.m. RECEIVE CITIZEN COMMUNICATIONS/COMMENTS – None 1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES by Motion: The minutes for the regular meeting of November 6, 2019 were approved on a motion Board Member Villanacci and seconded by Board Member Bray on a 7-0 vote. 2. WELCOME NEW BOARD MEMBERS: Shandel Milburn, Tim Ruttan, April Geruso A welcome was extended to new members. They each responded sharing some background history. 3. CONSIDER AND TAKE ACTION OF THE NON-EMERGENCY MEDICAL FRANCHISE APPLICATION SUBMITTED BY CITY AMBULANCE SERVICES Speakers: Kerri Lang – City of Austin Rick Branning – City of Austin EMS Employee Moe Massoud – CEO/Founder, City Ambulance – For/Support Pikul Patel – Medical Director – For/Support Arthur Abello, MD FACEP – Principal, Ally Medical – For/Support Assistant Director Lang provided an overview of the staff report that was included in the board packet. If approved, this would be the fourth non-emergency medical transfer franchise service. Mr. Rick Branning provided additional details that are included in the report and answered board member questions. The impact of not having enough transfer service providers, Dr. Escott said, is that volume rolls onto ATCEMS and increases their call volume. It does have a significant impact on service. There have been frustrations voiced by hospitals for not having timely service for no - emergency transfer services. He provided recommendation and said they have a good provider over site handled by their medical director. Board Member Villanacci asked questions about the need for the franchise, about their dispatch, over-site on their billing practices since that could get costly, to which Mr. Branning responded. All non-emergency franchises are dispatched by their own dispatch center aside from the one that works through St. David’s. All major hospitals are contracted …
