Item 4 - Report on Mobile Healthcare Services Option

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Provider and patient education The strategy for this national demonstration project is to conduct an ‘alpha test’ and two or more ‘beta tests’ of the MHS system concept. The ‘alpha test’ is designed to demonstrate program viability while the ‘beta test(s)’ are designed to demonstrate that the program can be successfully replicated at other locations in the U.S. The ‘alpha test’ will be conducted in the Central Lane County, Oregon area and the principal cities of Eugene and Springfield (3,000 sq mi., population 308,200) and will take approximately 2 years. The primary purpose of this selection is previous success with national alpha and beta tests performed here. The ‘beta tests’ will be performed in multiple sites simultaneously across the U.S.; each test would last for approximately 1 year. 3.3Fire/EMS First Response, Basic and Advanced Life Support Ambulances Existing Fire and EMS Services will continue to operate emergency response services to provide the closest immediate care for presumptively serious or life-threatening situations. These units may include one or all of the following components: Basic Life Support or Advanced Life Support first responders (BLS/EMT or ALS/paramedic): usually a fire apparatus, typically a fire engine, staffed with one or more paramedics or EMTs and a complete supply of ALS or BLS equipment. Basic Life Support Ambulance (BLS/EMT): equipped with all BLS equipment required by state laws and staffed by a minimum of two basic EMTs. They provide basic care and transportation for patients requiring a stretcher and/or continuing basic care from an EMT. May be provided by Fire/EMS or other type of provider. Advanced Life Support Ambulance (ALS/Paramedic): equipped with all ALS equipment required by state laws and staffed by a minimum of two personnel, at least one of whom is a paramedic. They provide advanced care and transportation to the emergency department or between acute care facilities for urgent situations. May be provided by Fire/EMS or other type of provider. All of these emergency services are available for dispatch directly to the scene or may be requested by any other unit in the MHS system. They may also treat and release or transfer the patient to a Mobile Primary Care Unit (MPCU) or a lesser level of care, if the situation isn’t urgent. Fire/EMS first responders and ambulance transport services are dispatched by an emergency 9-1-1 center; however in the Mobile Healthcare System 9-1-1 call-takers would have the added option of transferring a caller to the non- emergency MediHelp call center, if the call-taker determines that emergency assistance is not necessary. 6