Update on EMS Ambulance Service in Dunwoody
Dunwoody and DeKalb County have the beginning framework for improvements to the county’s EMS ambulance service in Dunwoody.
However, the city’s request for a Dunwoody zone from the state’s Region III EMS Council will remain open for at least one year following a new ambulance provider implemented by DeKalb County. This is a good situation for Dunwoody because we won’t have to start over if the county does not meet expectations for improvements.
Summary
In 2013, DeKalb County Fire and Rescue stopped delivering ambulance services, choosing to outsource this crucial public safety support to a third party vendor. The county’s paramedic units previously stationed at all three fire stations inside Dunwoody city limits were shut down and removed. DeKalb County contracted for five years with the private provider, American Medical Response (AMR), to provide EMS ambulance services across DeKalb County. The AMR contract expires December 31, 2018.
For the last three years, Dunwoody has registered multiple issues of delayed ambulance responses with DeKalb County leadership. County leaders responded multiple times with short solutions, but did not sustain responsive ambulance service in Dunwoody. This led to a May 2018 Dunwoody City Council declaration of an EMS Emergency. An application was filed with the state’s Region III EMS Council to open Dunwoody as a separate ambulance zone with its own provider.
On August 9, 2018 the EMS Council appointed an Ad Hoc Committee to study DeKalb County EMS ambulance service. On October 4, 2018 every member of the Ad Hoc Committee concluded DeKalb County “has a serious EMS problem” and ordered DeKalb County to place additional EMS ambulance units in Dunwoody. This past week, the county reported it fulfilled the state’s request for these additional ambulance units in Dunwoody.
On November 5, Dunwoody City Council approved a new Memo of Understanding with DeKalb County for EMS ambulance services in Dunwoody. The MOU is similar, but not the same as a separate ambulance zone. However, it should provide Dunwoody with improvements to the delivery of advanced life support services, if the county fulfills all elements of the MOU and sustains the improvements with a transition from AMR to a new ambulance provider.
Despite the AMR contract’s December 31 expiration date, the Request for Proposal by the county for new EMS ambulance services is not expected until early 2019. The current AMR contract will be extended by the county on a short-term basis.
Links to the DeKalb/Dunwoody MOU for EMS ambulance services and the Dunwoody City Council action for accountability:
EMS MOU Action for Accountability 11-5-2018
Highlights of the MOU
A nine (9) minute or less response time for 90% of Advanced Life Support (ALS) calls and a 15 minute or less response time for 90% of Basic Life Support (BLS) calls. [Contrary to the county’s EMS consultant statement, response times do matter in Dunwoody!]
Three EMS units will be posted in the response territory of Dunwoody Fire Stations 12, 18, and 21. However, this also includes any response area outside of the Dunwoody city limits, such as Brookhaven, Chamblee, and Doraville. [A Dunwoody ambulance zone would be solely Dunwoody or at a minimum, solely north of I-285].
A fourth EMS unit will be available for call 9:00 am to 9:00 pm [but will not necessarily posted within any of the Dunwoody fire station response territories].
All four EMS units must be certified as advanced life support [which means paramedic and paramedic equipment onboard].
DeKalb County will provide monthly response time reports to Dunwoody for its evaluation of response times.
All EMS units will have GPS tracking devices with Dunwoody and its 911 center having access to the tracking devices on a real-time basis.
All EMS units will have the automated gate-opening devices for Dunwoody’s gated communities, which is the same device utilized by Dunwoody Police Department.
Next Steps
The EMS Council Ad Hoc Committee meets on February 7 to review the progress by DeKalb County on its EMS ambulance service improvements and its search for a new provider.
As with all prior meetings on the topic of EMS ambulance services, I will be present, along with Dunwoody management, to ensure Dunwoody’s best position is represented.
Public Safety is our Job #1.
Dunwoody 10th Anniversary Celebration
December 1, 2018 marks Dunwoody’s 10-year anniversary as a city. Please join us on Saturday, December 1 at 2:00 pm – 6:00 pm for a celebration at Pernoshal Park (4575 N. Shallowford Road, Dunwoody). Click to learn more: http://ow.ly/gfgq30mzWPJ
Email terry.nall@dunwoodyga.gov if you’d like to be added to his distribution list.