Broward County Commission Regular Meeting

A. MOTION TO ACCEPT report from the Broward County Regional Emergency Medical Services ("EMS") Council, EMS Grants Committee, that includes the projects recommended for funding under the County grant portion of State EMS trust fund monies for Fiscal Year 2019.

ACTION:  (T-10:28 AM)  Approved.  (See Yellow-Sheeted Additional Material, dated November 13, 2018, submitted at the request of the Office of the Medical Examiner.)

VOTE: 8-0. 

B. MOTION TO ACCEPT report from the Broward County Regional Emergency Management Services ("EMS") Council, EMS Grants Committee, that includes the projects recommended for funding under the County grant portion of State EMS trust fund monies in the amount of $8,565 that were unexpended from 2016 and 2017 and approved to be rolled over by the Florida Department of Health.

ACTION:  (T-10:28 AM)  Approved.  (See Yellow-Sheeted Additional Material, dated November 13, 2018, submitted at the request of the Office of the Medical Examiner.)

VOTE: 8-0. 

C. MOTION TO ADOPT Resolution No. 2018-482 of the Board of County Commissioners of Broward County, Florida, authorizing submittal of an Emergency Medical Services (“EMS”) Grant Application in the amount of $119,816 to the State of Florida, Department of Health, for the purpose of improving and expanding prehospital emergency medical services in Broward County; authorizing the County Administrator to execute the Application, provide certification relating to the use of EMS County Grant Funds, and approve Broward County’s EMS Grant Program Funding Distribution; authorizing the County Administrator to execute agreements and amendments to agreements as provided for in the Resolution; authorizing the County Administrator to take the necessary administrative and budgetary actions for implementation of same; and providing for severability and an effective date.

ACTION:  (T-10:28 AM)  Approved.  (See Yellow-Sheeted Additional Material, dated November 13, 2018, submitted at the request of the Office of the Medical Examiner.)

VOTE: 8-0. 

D. MOTION TO ADOPT budget Resolution No. 2018-483 within the EMS County Grant Fund for the Office of Medical Examiner and Trauma Services in the amount of $119,816, for the purpose of improving and expanding prehospital emergency medical services in Broward County.

ACTION:  (T-10:28 AM)  Approved.  (See Yellow-Sheeted Additional Material, dated November 13, 2018, submitted at the request of the Office of the Medical Examiner.)

VOTE: 8-0. 

The EMS County Grant Program Application for State EMS County Grant funds, adoption of a Resolution certifying the use of the funds, and agreements with external agencies require Board approval.

Approves submittal of the EMS County Grant Program funding application; approves EMS County grant funding distribution; and authorizes the County Administrator to execute agreements with grant applicants and participating agencies.

None.

THE OFFICE OF THE MEDICAL EXAMINER AND TRAUMA SERVICES RECOMMENDS APPROVAL OF THIS MOTION.

In previous years, Broward County submitted a grant application to the Department of Health ("DOH"), Bureau of Emergency Medical Services for County grant funds. Following notice of Broward County's award from DOH (Exhibit 6) and prior to submission of the Fiscal Year 2019 EMS Grant Application ("Grant Application"), the County conducted a competitive application process through the Broward County Regional Emergency Medical Services ("EMS") Council's Grants Committee ("Grants Committee") for funding under the Fiscal Year 2019 EMS County's Grant Program. The sum of $119,816 is available; the Grants Committee reviewed two EMS County Grant projects ("Projects"). The Grants Committee is recommending two Projects be funded: one at a reduced (over requested budget) award amount and the other fully-funded. Each agency requesting funding agreed to the recommended award amounts.

The Fire Chiefs' Association of Broward County would receive $50,000 to assist in funding the 23rd Annual First There First Care Conference. This conference provides innovative EMS education to over 500 EMS and nursing professionals in Broward County, presents cutting edge and dynamic patient trends and treatments to be used resulting in better patient outcomes, and networking opportunities to share clinical updates and medical advances.

This is a countywide project that all municipalities within Broward County will benefit from. The City of Hollywood initiated the grant request. The City would receive $69,816 to assist in funding the Stop the Bleed initiative in Broward County as a pass-through grant from the Florida Department of Health. The Stop the Bleed initiative is intended to educate, equip, empower and encourage bystanders to assist in bleeding emergencies. The amount of kits and training equipment that will be purchased is listed in Exhibit 1 and will be allocated to each of the 31 municipalities, based on population.

Additionally, each applicant was notified of, and agreed to, the requirement to fund any Project costs exceeding the amount recommended by the EMS Council. The County retains no responsibility for funding future phases of Projects recommended for funding in this cycle. The County has available $8,565 in unexpended funds that has been approved to be rolled over by the DOH. The EMS Council has recommended to allocate those funds to projects described in (Exhibit 3).

The EMS Council, in accordance with its objectives under Section 15-73, Broward County Code of Ordinances, serving in an advisory role to the Broward County Board of County Commissioners ("Board"), met on October 23, 2018, and approved the Grants Committee's project funding recommendations (Exhibit 3).

The Grant Application submitted to the DOH, Bureau of Emergency Medical Services, for the EMS County grant, requires a Resolution of the Board certifying that EMS County grant funds received shall be used to improve and expand prehospital emergency medical services in Broward County and that the funds will not be used to supplant existing EMS County budget allocations. The proposed Resolution (Exhibit 5) and the proposed distribution of grant funds (Exhibit 2) meet those requirements.

Upon approval of the Grant Application by the State of the County's receipt of the grant award, staff will initiate agreements with the grant applicant organizations and participating agencies for those Projects listed on (Exhibit 4).

The County Administrator will execute agreements with the project applicants and participating agencies on forms approved by the Office of the County Attorney and the Risk Management Division.

Alison Zerbe, Manager - Trauma and EMS Section, Office of Medical Examiner and Trauma Services, (954) 357-5234
Dr. Craig T. Mallak, Director, Office of Medical Examiner and Trauma Services, (954) 357-5209