Emergency Medical Services (EMS) —provided countywide by the Board of County Commissioners, sitting as the EMS Authority, a special, countywide taxing district created in 1980 to fund emergency medical services (EMS) throughout Pinellas County. Pinellas County maintains EMS contracts with 19 fire service agencies, and one ambulance provider (Paramedic Plus, operating in Pinellas County under the trade name “Sunstar”).

Fire Suppression Services—provided by municipal fire departments serving the citizens within each municipality. Pinellas County maintains contracts with ten municipal agencies to provide fire suppression services to unincorporated neighborhoods within the respective fire districts. Four, independent fire districts (East Lake, Palm Harbor, Lealman and Pinellas Suncoast Fire and Rescue District) have taxing authority within their respective fire districts and provide fire suppression services to those residents directly.

Standards Workshop 02/24/09 Special Authority Meeting 03/20/09  - Watch Special Public Meeting  - Resolution - Levels of Service  - Resolution - Costs

What's Changing and Why—
The Pinellas County EMS Authority anticipates a budget shortfall of $18M in FY08/09, due to declining ad valorum tax revenue. EMS taxes can only be spent on EMS services. Conversely, EMS financial obligations may only be funded through use of the EMS tax; they may not be funded from other sources of revenue. Therefore, it becomes imperative that new efficiencies within our EMS system are implemented to keep up with the changing economy around the nation and right here at home.

• History of EMS in Pinellas County
• Working Together - 9-1-1/Sunstar/Fire Departments
• Medical Protocol
• EMS Vehicles
• Medical/Priority Dispatch
  By implementing an upgraded system of priority dispatch, unnecessary ambulance and fire/rescue responses can be cut by 10% each and will directly reduce costs associated with fuel and vehicle maintenance.  Crews will be where they are needed the most for a superior EMS response with no increase in apparatus or personnel. Any life-threatening or otherwise serious medical emergencies will still get a lights-and-siren, emergency response from both the fire department and Sunstar.  Lesser emergencies would get a less intense response. 

Pinellas County Fire District Information Report
Click on Map

The proposals outlined in the Pinellas County Fire District Information Report (map) reflect funding reductions only. Any service realignment is the ultimate responsibility of the various EMS agencies with whom Pinellas County contracts for services. These would include both the ambulance provider and 19 municipal and independent fire rescue agencies. Any impact on individuals within these organizations will be the result of individual management decisions made by the departments involved.

There is excess capacity in the Pinellas County EMS system, and our proposal slightly realigns resources to improve efficiency. Response times are predicted to continue to far exceed national guidelines.

Our Pinellas County taxpayers expect their taxing authorities to be effective and efficient in the investment of taxpayer dollars, public safety service agencies included.

As part of our EMS cost saving strategy, we propose to reduce funding for paramedic positions on ALS fire apparatus. Currently, 362 firefighter/paramedic positions are funded by EMS tax dollars. These are divided up among 65 ALS units in fire districts throughout Pinellas County, so that each ALS vehicle is staffed 24/7. We recommend reducing paramedic staffing on 5 ALS units, and realigning paramedic staffing on 11 other vehicles, which would result in a tax savings of $6.8M or 17%. The individual fire districts would decide how to shift their own internal funding to maintain the integrity of their ALS response. Click on the Fire District map, then mouse over the individual fire districts to see how this reduced funding might affect each of the 19 Pinellas County fire districts that receive EMS funding regarding average response times, yet still maintaining the Pinellas County EMS first responder minimum time standard of 90% of all arrivals within 7 minutes, 30 seconds.

The recommended revisions are operationally sound, ensure a high service delivery level and reduce costs countywide.

The health, safety and welfare of our citizens and visitors has, is, and always will be the number one concern of the Pinellas County EMS Authority.

It Starts with 9-1-1 Time: 16 min. Find out what happens when you call 9-1-1 in Pinellas County with a medical emergency. The Pinellas County EMS system brings you emergency medical care within 4 1/2 minutes on average with an all-paramedic, advanced life support response.

Drowning Prevention Time: 12 min. Drowning remains a leading cause of child deaths. Last year in Pinellas County, 16 young children experienced water submersions requiring an emergency medical response. Four children lost their lives as a result of these submersion incidents. (Watch this important educational video about drowning prevention.) Also, on Inside Pinellas This Week, watch this story about the county’s free pool safety survey program offered to pool owners by Pinellas County EMS & Fire Administration. Pinellas County pool owners are invited to call the drowning prevention hotline at (727) 582-2074 to request a free, home pool safety survey. A public safety professional from your local fire department will visit and suggest ways to make your backyard pool a safer home environment. The safety improvements are strictly voluntary and are designed to help reduce backyard pool child submersions countywide. The hotline offers other prerecorded swimming safety information as well.  Callers can also leave a message to request a drowning prevention speaker for their club, civic group or homeowners association.

 

 

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