Response Model Integrations

Through strong public-private partnerships, jurisdictions can offer high-quality service, often at lower costs than working independently. Tiered response systems are proven to work effectively with EMD, medical direction oversight and quality improvement validation. Furthermore, integration of public and private resources can lead to refined deployment and improved system status plans, resulting in more cost-effectiveness, system sustainability and better response times overall.

Additional benefits can include the following:

Provide patient-centric care with the most appropriate scope of practice
Appropriate utilization of limited emergency resources

1

Advanced Tiered Response

A specific model that often works well in larger urban EMS systems is one that directs all higher acuity calls through an EMD process to ALS ambulances, and lower acuity (EMD) calls to BLS or ILS ambulances. The tiered response model utilizes established dispatch capabilities to the full extent and sends the best resource to match the needs of the patient.

2

Full System Integration

In this model, a strategic alignment is formed between the jurisdiction's emergency service provider, fire service provider and a private ambulance provider, generally in a subcontractor relationship with the private provider. This arrangement allows the public entity to take advantage of GEMT/IGT funding, as approved by State law. This model represents an enhanced level of system integration, both administratively and operationally, and provides increased on-going funding for the EMS system.

3

Limited System Integration

This model is essentially a scaled-down version of the full system integration, focusing on a contractual relationship between the fire entity and the private ambulance provider, without significant system and operational integration.

Fire Department purchases ambulance services from the private provider on leased unit hour (UH) basis, and controls deployment objectives and priorities for the private provider: BLS vs ALS, zones and communities to be served, etc.