Broward County Commission Regular Meeting
Director's Name: Rebecca MacDougall
Department: Medical Examiner and Trauma Services
Information
Requested Action
title
A. MOTION TO APPROVE receipt of Fiscal Year 2024-2025 Emergency Medical Services (“EMS”) County Grant funds in the amount of $98,737 from the Florida Department of Health, Bureau of Emergency Medical Oversight, Division of Emergency Preparedness and Community Support.
B. MOTION TO ADOPT budget Resolution in the EMS County Grant Fund for the Broward County Office of Medical Examiner and Trauma Services in the amount of $98,737 to support projects that improve and expand prehospital emergency medical services in Broward County.
C. MOTION TO AUTHORIZE County Administrator to execute all agreements and amendments related to the EMS County Grant, subject to review for legal sufficiency by the Office of the County Attorney, and to take all necessary administrative and budgetary actions for implementation.
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Why Action is Necessary
The disbursed funds in the Emergency Medical Services Trust Fund require adoption of a grant revenue not anticipated in the budget in the form of budget Resolution (Exhibit 4) and agreements with external agencies require Board approval.
What Action Accomplishes
Approves EMS County Grant funding for Fiscal Year 2024-2025; allocates the funds through the EMS County Grant Fund; and authorizes the County Administrator to execute agreements and amendments with grant applicants and participating agencies.
Goal Related Icon(s)
☐County Commission
☐Go Green
☐MAP Broward
Previous Action Taken
None
Summary Explanation/Background
THE OFFICE OF THE MEDICAL EXAMINER AND TRAUMA SERVICES RECOMMENDS APPROVAL OF THIS MOTION.
The Florida Department of Health, under the authority of Section 401.113, Florida Statutes, has allocated $98,737 from the EMS Trust Fund to Broward County for Fiscal Year 2024-2025 to support initiatives that improve and expand prehospital emergency medical services.
The County conducted a competitive application process for funding under the Fiscal Year 2024-2025 EMS County Grant Program. The Broward Regional Emergency Medical Services Council’s Grant Committee (“Grant Committee”) reviewed the two proposals received by the Grant Committee. Following evaluation, the Grant Committee recommended full funding of one project (Exhibit 5) and partial funding of another project (Exhibit 6). All applicants accepted their recommended award amounts and agreed to cover any remaining project costs. The County will not be responsible for funding future phases of these projects during this grant cycle.
On December 19, 2024, the Broward Regional Emergency Medical Services Council (“EMS Council”), in accordance with Section 15-73, Broward County Code of Ordinances, accepted the Grant Committee’s funding recommendations (Exhibit 3).
Upon receipt of funds and Board approval, the County Administrator will execute agreements with the grant applicant organizations and participating agencies for those Projects listed on (Exhibit 2), subject to review for legal sufficiency by the Office of the County Attorney.
Fiscal Year 2025 EMS Project Summaries
25-01Fire Chiefs’ Association of Broward County
28th Annual First There First Care Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Conference
Funding Requested - $75,000 (Countywide) 63.00 points
Funding Recommended - $75,000
The Association shall host the 28th Annual First There First Care (FTFC) EMS Conference: EMS Education (the “Conference”) in June 2025 at the Hard Rock Hotel in Hollywood, Florida. The Conference shall provide didactic lectures and hands-on instructional training to emergency medical services (“EMS”) field staff and students who desire to work in the EMS field.
Last year’s 27th FTFC Conference provided innovative EMS education to more than 1,500 EMS and nursing professionals working in prehospital and emergency department settings in Broward, Miami Dade, Palm Beach, Monroe, and other countries. The three-day event allows the opportunity for networking, allows for trend and treatment tracking, and provides EMS and nursing professionals continuing education credits, helping ensure that Broward County residents, and its visitors are receiving the best care possible.
This Project will improve or expand prehospital emergency medical services by providing lectures and hands-on training to the Conference participants.
The Conference includes competitions that will hone the skills and teamwork of paramedics, emergency medical technicians and emergency department nurses. These competitions improve and advance patient care. The Conference and competitors will help to keep all EMS and nursing providers at the forefront of the prehospital care.
Both the EMS Council and Fire Chiefs have jointly provided direct financial assistance via grants and supplemental funding for event development,
coordination, support services, and staffing.
25-02 Broward Sheriff’s Office
Enhancing Prehospital Trauma Care in Broward County through Collaboration and SPARC
Funding Requested - $98,737 58.50 points
Funding Recommended - $23,737
This proposal seeks funding to equip EMS agencies with standardized blood fluid warmers and rapid infusion systems to enhance trauma care. These tools will enable EMS providers to deliver advanced resuscitation, preparing for prehospital blood product administration, if available, at that agency or in preparation for collaboration with mutual aid agencies that carry blood, reducing preventable deaths and improving outcomes. By equipping all EMS agencies with consistent tools and comprehensive training, this initiative will streamline advanced resuscitation efforts during both routine and mutual aid responses. Standardization will decrease time, funding, and logistical efforts required to deliver lifesaving interventions to injured patients, ensuring seamless care and improved outcomes.
Additionally, a collaborative equipment exchange program with trauma centers will ensure the sustainability of equipment, reduce costs and improve the continuity of care. This program will ensure Broward County EMS adopts best practices in trauma care, promoting consistency across agencies and collaboration with trauma centers.
Trauma is a leading cause of death in Broward County, and hemorrhagic shock is a primary contributor to preventable mortality. Early and effective resuscitation is crucial to improving survival. Evidence has demonstrated that advanced resuscitative tools and prehospital blood delivery improves the outcomes by addressing hypovolemia and coagulopathy before hospital arrival.
Source of Additional Information
Alison Zerbe, Manager - Trauma and EMS Section, Office of Medical Examiner and Trauma Services, (954) 357-5234
Dr. Rebecca MacDougall, Director, Office of Medical Examiner and Trauma Services, (954) 357-5209
Fiscal Impact
Fiscal Impact/Cost Summary
The total grant amount of $98,737 will be budgeted in the EMS Grant Fund. No County match is required.