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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity of Tamarac Resolution R-2018-074TR13131 Page 1 of 4 CITY OF TAMARAC, FLORIDA RESOLUTION NO. R-2018 -� A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF TAMARAC, FLORIDA ACCEPTING AN EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES (EMS) GRANT AWARD IN THE AMOUNT OF $24,561 FROM THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, BUREAU OF EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES; AUTHORIZING THE APPROPRIATE CITY OFFICIALS TO EXECUTE THE NECESSARY DOCUMENTS BETWEEN THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND THE CITY OF TAMARAC FOR EMS GRANT PROGRAM FUNDS IN THE AMOUNT OF $18,421 AND PROVIDING FOR A 25% MATCH IN LOCAL FUNDS IN THE AMOUNT OF $6,140 FOR THE PURCHASE OF ONE POWER LOAD SYSTEM FOR TAMARAC FIRE RESCUE; PROVIDING FOR CONFLICTS; PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY; AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE. WHEREAS, The City of Tamarac has provided high quality emergency medical services, including emergency medical transportation, to the community since 1996, and WHEREAS, the City Commission desires to improve patient transfer and emergency medical transport in the City of Tamarac and neighboring cities using a power load system to enhance patient and first responder safety; and WHEREAS, City staff applied for and was awarded Florida Department of Health (DOH), Bureau of Emergency Medical Services (EMS) matching grant funds in the amount of $18,421 to purchase a power load system for Tamarac Fire Rescue as indicated in the May 23, 2018 correspondence from DOH attached hereto as Exhibit A which is incorporated herein by this reference; and TR13131 Page 2of4 WHEREAS, the EMS grant program requires, and the City is willing to provide a 25 percent match of $6,140 in local funds through the Capital Equipment Fund for a total grant award of $24,561; and WHEREAS, as indicated in Exhibit A, EMS grant guidelines require the application also serve as the grant agreement which is attached hereto as Exhibit B and is incorporated herein by this reference; and WHEREAS, the Director of Financial Services and Fire Chief recommend acceptance of the grant award and execution of necessary documents for a grant agreement between DOH and the City of Tamarac to purchase a power load system for Tamarac Fire Rescue in the amount of $24,561 pending legal review; and WHEREAS, the City Commission of the City of Tamarac deems it to be in the best interest of the citizens and residents of the City of Tamarac to accept the EMS grant award and to execute the necessary documents for a grant agreement in the amount of $24,561 and provide for a 25 percent match of $6,140 in local funds for a power loader for Tamarac Fire Rescue; and NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF TAMARAC, FLORIDA: TR13131 Page 3 of 4 SECTION 1: The foregoing "WHEREAS" clauses are HEREBY ratified and confirmed as being true and correct and are hereby made a specific part of this Resolution. All Exhibits attached HERETO are expressly incorporated HEREIN and made a part hereof. SECTION 2: The City Commission of the City of Tamarac HEREBY accepts the award of $24,561 from the Florida Department of Health (DOH), Bureau of Emergency Medical Services. SECTION 3: The appropriate City Officials are HEREBY authorized to accept the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) grant award in the amount of $24,561 from the Florida Department of Health (DOH), Bureau of Emergency Medical Services, and to execute the necessary documents between DOH and the City of Tamarac for EMS grant program funds in the amount of $18,421, and to provide for a 25% match in local funds in the amount of $6,140 for the purchase of one power load system for Tamarac Fire Rescue. SECTION 4: All Resolutions or parts of Resolutions in conflict herewith are hereby repealed to the extent of such conflict. SECTION 5: If any clause, section, other part or application of this Resolution is held by any court of competent jurisdiction to be unconstitutional or invalid, in part or application, it shall not affect the validity of the remaining portions or applications of this Resolution. G TR13131 Page 4 of 4 SECTION 6: This Resolution shall become effective immediately upon its passage and adoption. PASSED, ADOPTED AND APPROVED this day of 2018. A R&YYD R ESSAL E MAYOR ATTEST: PAT CIA TEUFEL, CM CITY CLERK RECORD OF COMMISSION VOTE: MAYOR DRESSLER DIST 1: COMM. BOLTON DIST 2: V/M GOMEZ DIST 3: COMM. FISHMAN DIST 4: COMM. PLACKO I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT I HAVE APPROVED THIS RESOLUTION AS TO FORM EL S. GOREN PV CITY ATTORNEY 1 EXHIBIT A Rick Scott Mission: Governor To protect, promote & improve the health of all people In Florida through Integrated state, county & community efforts.�� Celeste Philip, MD, MPH " i., Surgeon General and Secretary I it 1-r F�`\1;'f it Vision: To be the Healthiest State in the Nation May 23, 2018 Michael Cernech, City Manager City of Tamarac Fire Rescue 7525 Northwest 881h Avenue Tamarac, Florida 33321 Dear Mr. Cernech: The Department of Health is pleased to award an Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Matching Grant, ID Code M6072, in the amount of $18,421.00, to the City of Tamarac Fire Rescue. This grant program is funded through the Florida Department of Health, EMS Trust Fund. There are no federal funds involved. The purpose of this grant is to improve and expand EMS by assisting your organization in the purchase of one power load system. The grant begins the date of this letter and ends June 30, 2019. Your required local cash match is $6,140.00, with a total budget of $24,561.00. You are required to report grant activities and purchases to the state pursuant to section 401.113(2)(b), Florida Statutes, and in compliance with the Florida Catalog of State Financial Assistance, number 64.003. The reports are due the third week of October 2018, February 2019, and July 2019. Your signed grant application affirms you have read, understand and will comply with the conditions and requirements in the "Florida EMS Matching Grant Program Application Packet, December 2008." You may obtain a copy of the grant application packet from your identified contact person. Thank you for your participation in this state EMS grant program. If you need assistance, please contact the Bureau of Emergency Medical Oversight, EMS Section, Health Services and Facilities Consultant, Alan Van Lewen at (850) 558-9550. DW/avl cc: Percy Sayles, Fire Chief Florida Department of Health Division of Emergency Preparedness and Community Support Bureau of Emergency Medical Oversight 4052 Bald Cypress Way, Bin A-22 • Tallahassee, FL 32399-1722 PHONE: 8501245-4440 • FAX: 8501245A378 FloridaHealth.gov Sincerely, Doug Woodlief Interim Division Director Emergency Preparedness and Community Support MAccredited Health Department Public 1--lealth Accreditation Hoard EXHIBIT B EMS MATCHING GRANT APPLICATION FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH 4 Emergency Medical Services Program II^ll`'-tf �If Complete all items unless instructed differently within the application Type of Grant Requested: U Rural � Matching ID. Code (The State Bureau of EMS will assign the ID Code — (leave this blank 1. Organization Name: City of Tamarac Fire Rescue 2. Grant Signer: (The applicant signatory who has authority to sign contracts, grants, and other legal documents. This individual must also sign this application) Name: Michael Cernech Position Title: City Manager Address: 7525 NW 881h Avenue City: Tamarac County: Broward State: Florida Zip Code: 33321 Telephone: 954-597-3510 Fax Number: 954-597-3520 E-Mail Address: michael.cernech@tamarac.org 3. Contact Person: (The individual with direct knowledge of the project on a day-to-day basis and responsibility for the implementation of the grant activities. This person may sign project reports and may request project changes. The signer and the contact person may be the same.) Name: Percy Sa les Position Title: Fire Chief Address: Tamarac Fire Rescue Fire Station #15 6000 Hiatus Road City: Tamarac County: Broward State: Florida Zip Code: 33321 Telephone: 954-597-3800 Fax Number: 954-597-3810 E-Mail Address: erc .sa les tamarac.or DH FORM 1767 [20131 64J-1.015, F.A.C. 1 4. Legal Status of Applicant Organization (Check only one response): (1) ❑ Private Not for Profit [Attach documentation-501 (3) ©] (2) ❑ Private for Profit (3) ® City/Municipality/Town/Village (4) ❑ County (5) ❑ State (6) ❑ Other (specify): 5. Federal Tax ID Number (Nine Digit Number). VF 59_1039552 __ 6. EMS License Number: 0636 Type: ®Transport ❑Non -transport ❑Both 7. Number of permitted vehicles by type: 0 BLS; 7 ALS Transport; 5 ALS non -transport. 8. Type of Service (check one): ❑ Rescue; ® Fire; ❑ Third Service (County or City Government, nonfire); ❑ Air ambulance; ❑ Fixed wing; ❑ Rotowing; ❑ Both; ❑Other (specify) 9. Medical Director of licensed EMS provider: If this project is approved, I agree by signing below that I will affirm my authority and responsibility for the use of all medical equipment and/or the provision of all continuinq EMS education in this project. [No signature is needed if medical equipment and professional EMS education are not in this project.] Signature: N/A Date: Print/Type: Name of Director FL Med. Lic. No. Note: All organizations that are not licensed EMS providers must obtain the signature of the medical director of the licensed EMS provider responsible for EMS services in their area of operation for projects that involve medical equipment and/or continuing EMS education. If your activity is a research or evaluation project, omit Items 10, 11, 12, 13, and skip to Item Number 14. Otherwise, proceed to Item 10 and the followinq items. 10. Justification Summary: Provide on no more than three one sided, double spaced pages a summary addressing this project, covering each topic listed below. A) Problem description (Provide a narrative of the problem or need); B) Present situation (Describe how the situation is being handled now); C) The proposed solution (Present your proposed solution); D) Consequences if not funded (Explain what will happen if this project is not funded); E) The geographic area to be addressed (Provide a narrative description of the geographic area); F) The proposed time frames (Provide a list of the time frame(s) for completing this project); G) Data Sources (Provide a complete description of data source(s) you cite); H) Statement attesting that the proposal is not a duplication of a previous effort (State that this project doesn't duplicate what you've done on other grant projects under this grant program). UH FORM 1167 I2U13J Next, only complete one of the following: Items 11, 12, or 13. Read all three and then select and complete the one that pertains the most to the preceding Justification Summary. Note that on all three, that before -after differences for emergency victim data are the highest scoring items on the Matching Grants Evaluation Worksheet used by reviewers to evaluate your application form. 11. Outcome For Projects That Provide or Effect Direct Services To Emergency Victims: This may include vehicles, medical and rescue equipment, communications, navigation, dispatch, and all other things that impact upon on -site treatment, rescue, and benefit of emergency victims at the emergency scene. Use no more than two additional one sided, double-spaced pages for your response. Include the following. A) Quantify what the situation has been in the most recent 12 months for which you have data (include the dates). The strongest data will include numbers of deaths and injuries during this time. B) In the 12 months after this project's resources are on-line, estimate what the numbers you provided under the preceding "(A)" should become. C) Justify and explain how you derived the numbers in (A) and (B), above. D) What other outcome of this project do you expect? Be quantitative and explain the derivation of your figures. E) How does this integrate into your agency's five-year plan? 12. Outcome For Training Projects: This includes training of all types for the public, first responders, law enforcement personnel, EMS and other healthcare staff. Use no more than two additional one sided, double-spaced pages for your response. Include the following: A) How many people received the training this project proposes in the most recent 12-month time period for which you have data (include the dates). B) How many people do you estimate will successfully complete this training in the 12 months after training begins? C) If this training is designed to have an impact on injuries, deaths, or other emergency victim data, provide the impact data for the 12 months before the training and project what the data should be in the 12 months after the training. D) Explain the derivation of all figures. E) How does this integrate into your agency's five-year plan? 13. Outcome For Other Projects: This includes quality assurance, management, administrative, and other. Provide numeric data in your responses, if possible, that bear directly upon the project and emergency victim deaths, injuries, and/or other data. Use no more than two additional one sided, double- spaced pages for your response. Include the following. A) What has the situation been in the most recent 12 months for which you have data (include the dates)? B) What will the situation be in the 12 months after the project services are on-line? C) If this project is designed to have an impact on injuries, deaths, or other emergency victim data, provide the impact data for the 12 months before the project and what the data should be in the 12 months after the project. D) Explain the derivation of all numbers. E) How does this integrate into your agency's five-year plan? DH FORM 1767 [20131 3 Skip Item 14 and go to Item 15, unless your project is research and evaluation and you have not completed the preceding Justification Summary and one outcome item. 14. Research and Evaluation Justification Summary, and Outcome: You may use no more than three additional one sided, double spaced pages for this item. A) Justify the need for this project as it relates to EMS. B) Identify (1) location and (2) population to which this research pertains. C) Among population identified in 14(B) above, specify a past time frame, and provide the number of deaths, injuries, or other adverse conditions during this time that you estimate the practical application of this research will reduce (or positive effect that it will increase). D) (1) Provide the expected numeric change when the anticipated findings of this project are placed into practical use. (2) Explain the basis for your estimates. E) State your hypothesis. F) Provide the method and design for this project. G) Attach any questionnaires or involved documents that will be used. H) If human or other living subjects are involved in this research, provide documentation that you will comply with all applicable federal and state laws regarding research subjects. 1) Describe how you will collect and analyze the data. ALL AVVL1UAN I J MUS I UUMHLt I t I I tM I b. 15. Statutory Considerations and Criteria: The following are based on s. 401.113(2)(b) and 401.117, F.S. Use no more than one additional double spaced page to complete this item. Write NIA for those things in this section that do not pertain to this project. Respond to all others. Justify that this project will: A) Serve the requirements of the population upon which it will impact. B) Enable emergency vehicles and their staff to conform to state standards established by law or rule of the department. C) Enable the vehicles of your organization to contain at least the minimum equipment and supplies as required by law, rule or regulation of the department. D) Enable the vehicles of your organization to have, at a minimum, a direct communications linkup with the operating base and hospital designated as the primary receiving facility. E) Enable your organization to improve or expand the provision of: 1) EMS services on a county, multi county, or area wide basis. 2) Single EMS provider or coordinated methods of delivering services. 3) Coordination of all EMS communication links, with police, fire, emergency vehicles, and other related services. DH FORM 1767 [20131 4 16. Work activities and time frames: Indicate the major activities for completing the project (use only the space provided). Be reasonable, most projects cannot be completed in less than six months and if it is a communications project, it will take about a year. Also, if you are purchasing certain makes of ambulances, it takes at least nine months for them to be delivered after the bid is let. Work Activity Number of Months After Grant Starts Begin End Select lift device vendor Month 0 Month 3 Purchase lift device Month 3 Month 5 Receive patient lift device (power -loader) Month 5 Month 8 Install patient lift device on rescue vehicle Within one month after receiving devices and/or during rescue build Train personnel on power loader and power stretcher Immediately after training Monitor patient and personnel injuries and trends On -going and continuous 17. County Governments: If this application is being submitted by a county agency, describe in the space below why this request cannot be paid for out of funds awarded under the state EMS county grant program. Include in the explanation why any unspent county grant funds, which are now in your county accounts, cannot be allocated in whole or part for the costs herein. lk DH FORM 1767 [20131 18. Bud et: Salaries and Benefits: For each position title, provide the amount of salary per hour, FICA per hour, fringe benefits, and the total number of hours. Costs Justification: Provide a brief justification why each of the positions and the numbers of hours are necessary for this project. N/A TOTAL: 0.00 Right click on 0.00 then left click on "Update Field" to calculate Total Expenses: These are travel costs and the usual, ordinary, and incidental expenditures by an agency, such as, commodities and supplies of a consumable nature, excluding expenditures classified as operating capital outlay (see next category). Costs: List the price and source(s) of the price identified. Justification: Justify why each of the expense items and quantities are necessary to this project, N/A TOTAL: 0.00 Right click on 0.00 then left click on "Update Field" to calculate Total DH FORM 1767 [2013] Vehicles, equipment, and other operating capital outlay means equipment, fixtures, and other tangible personal property of a non consumable and non expendable nature, and the normal expected life of which is 1 year or more. Costs: List the price of the item and the source(s) used to identify the price. Justification: State why each of the items and quantities listed is a necessary component of this project. (1) Power -load Unit $24,561.21 Power load unit to be incorporated into new front-line rescue vehicle for lifting power - stretcher. TOTAL: $ 24,561.21 Right click on 0.00 then left click on "Update Field" to calculate Total State Amount (Check applicable program) ® Matching: 75 Percent ❑ Rural: 90 Percent Local Match Amount (Check applicable program) ® Matching: 25 Percent ❑ Rural: 10 Percent Grand Total DH FORM 1767 [20131 Right click on 0.00 then left click on $ 18,420.91 "Update Field" to calculate Total Right click on 0.00 then left click on 0.00 °Update Field" to calculate Total Right click on 0.00 then left click on 6 140.30 "Update Field" to calculate Total Right click on 0.00 then left click on 0.00 °Update Field" to calculate Total $ 0.00 Right click on 0.00 then left click on 7 19. Certification: My signature below certifies the following. I am aware that any omissions, falsifications, misstatements, or misrepresentations in this application may disqualify me for this grant and, if funded, may be grounds for termination at a later date. I understand that any information I give may be investigated as allowed by law. certify that to the best of my knowledge and belief all of the statements contained herein and on any attachments, are true, correct, complete, and made in good faith. I agree that any and all information submitted in this application will become a public document pursuant to Section 119.07, F.S. when received by the Florida Bureau of EMS. This includes material which the applicant might consider to be confidential or a trade secret. Any claim of confidentiality is waived by the applicant upon submission of this application pursuant to Section 119.07, F.S., effective after opening by the Florida Bureau of EMS. I accept that in the best interests of the State, the Florida Bureau of EMS reserves the right to reject or revise any and all grant proposals or waive any minor irregularity or technicality in proposals received, and can exercise that right. I, the undersigned, understand and accept that the Notice of Matching Grant Awards will be advertised in the Florida Administrative Weekly, and that 21 days after this advertisement is published I waive any right to challenge or protest the awards pursuant to Chapter 120, F.S. I certify that the cash match will be expended between the beginning and ending dates of the grant and will be used in strict accordance with the content of the application and approved budget for the activities identified. In addition, the budget shall not exceed, the department, approved funds for those activities identified in the notification letter. No funds count towards satisfying this grant if the funds were also used to satisfy a matching requirement of another state grant. All cash, salaries, fringe benefits, expenses, equipment, and other expenses as listed in this application shall be committed and used for the activities approved as a part of this grant. Acceptance of Terms and Conditions: If awarded a grant, I certify that I will comply with all of the above and also accept the attached grant terms and conditions and acknowledge this by signing below. 0&� /' 18 Signature of Authoriz Grant Signer MM / DD / YY (Individual Identifie in Item 2 DH FORM 1767 [2013] THE TOP PART OF THE FOLLOWING PAGE MUST ALSO BE COMPLETED AND SIGNED. FLOR/DA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH EMS GRANT PROGRAM REQUEST FOR GRANT FUND DISTRIBUTION In accordance with the provisions of Section 401.113(2)(b), F. S., the undersigned hereby requests an EMS grant fund distribution for the improvement and expansion of pre -hospital EMS. IDOH Remit Payment To: Name of Agency: City of Tamarac Mailing Address: 7525 NW 881h Avenue Tamarac Florida 33321 Federal Identification Number 9-1039552 Authorized Agency Official:/ ,qiglnature Oate Michael C. Cernech, City Manager Type Name and Title Sign and return this page with your application to: DOH Bureau of Emergency Medical Oversight EMS Section, Grants Unit 4052 Bald Cypress Way, Bin A-22 Tallahassee, Florida 32399-1722 Do not write below this line. For use by Bureau of Emergencv Medical Services personnel on Grant Amount For State To Pay: Grant ID Code: Approved By: Signature of State EMS Grant Officer Date State Fiscal Year: 2017 - 2018 Organization Code E.Q. OCA Object Code Category 64-61-70-30-000 03 SF003 750000 059999 Federal Tax ID: VF Grant Beginning Date: Grant Ending Date: P. 10. Justification Summary A) Problem Description: Increasing Transport Iniury Cases — Tamarac Fire Rescue (TFR) patient handling and transfer injury cases doubled from only four during 2014-2015 to eight during 2016-2017, costing the City of Tamarac $10,181 in worker's comp claims'. Despite TFR diligently installing hydraulic stretchers and power load lifters on most of its rescue vehicles since 2012, patient -transport related injuries continue to afflict the Department. With growing call volumes, TFR must reverse this injury trend by reducing risk to responders and patients being loaded/unloaded from a rescue vehicle. B) Present Situation: Increasing Call Volume - As Tamarac continues to grow, so are the number of apparatus calls we answer every year (2014=17,189; 2015=17,345; 2016=18,112; 2017=22,234). These calls are up a whopping 30% from 2014, totaling 77,880 over this four-year period. With this increasing call volume, the number of EMS transports averaged about 6,218 per year, or 33% of apparatus calls. Since our in-house power stretcher research determined a stretcher will be raised and lowered 7-times per call, our EMS personnel were exposed to nearly 174,111 opportunities for sustaining injury or injuring a patient while the stretcher was raised/lowered into and out of the rescue vehicle'. Increasing population vs. staff/call - With the City's population increasing nearly 7% in just 10 years (2007- 2017) or nearly 1% per year to 63,309 today, the number of rescue transports is expected to increase283. With the same number of responders per vehicle, patient -transport related injuries are expected to increase as well. In 2011, TFR staffed three personnel on each rescue daily. Since then, due to limitations in our overtime and staffing assignments, a Memorandum of Understanding was instituted to allow staffing of two personnel for up to a 9-hour timeframe within each 15-hour period of a 24-hour shift. This scheduling resulted in an increase of minimum staffing 20% of the time, thus resulting in additional personnel assigned to emergency response and increasing potential injury risk to those on a rescue'. Increased patient size - In addition to the increasing population and number of transports, the average patient size continues to be over 300lbs since 2011.' With Florida's obesity rate rising from 18.4% in 2000 to 27.4% today, each call for transport increases the risk of responder or patient injury.4 Manual vs. Power Lifters - Despite these increasing trends, Tamarac still does not have power lifters on all its rescue vehicles. One of our oldest rescues is past its useful life and is having maintenance issues. This old rescue does NOT have a power stretcher/loader and requires responders to manually lift, load/unload patients, increasing the opportunity for responder/patient injury. This outdated equipment: 1) Is difficult to use with an inadequate ratchet -type design. With increasing call volume, the probability of injury increases dramatically as responder fatigue escalates with the number of answered calls. According to a study published in Applied Ergonomics, paramedic injuries may be reduced by up to 78% by switching from a manual to a power stretcher with assisted ambulance -loading features.5 2) Contributes to personnel injuries resulting from improper operation and excessive efforts related to patient loading and unloading. The repetitive nature of lifting on the spine builds muscle fatigue that leads to overexertion. According to Steven Fischer, Asst Professor of Kinesiology at Waterloo University (Canada's top innovation university), "A manual stretcher alone can weigh nearly 100lbs. Add on a 200-pound patient and a paramedic team is handling 300 pounds every time they raise, lower, lift or load the stretcher... We estimate that a paramedic is lifting more than 1,700 pounds per shift on average, approximately the same weight as moving all of the furniture in a one -bedroom apt."5 3) Increases Risk. As our bodies age they become more susceptible to injuries. The average age of reported injuries was in their late thirties to early forty, which can be attributed to the routine lifting. Our in-house power stretcher research determined a stretcher will be raised and lowered 7-times per calla 4) Needs to be replaced to comply with new EMS safety standards for stretcher handling under Federal Spec KKK-A-1822F for ambulences and NFPA 1917 Standard for Automotive Ambulance' C) Proposed Solution: Improve and Expand EMS Services by adding a Power Loader - After implementating the 2009 DOH -EMS grant award for five power stretchers and lift devices, the number of injuries related to patient loading and unloading resulted in a significant decrease in injures: 2009 (5); 2010 (4); 2011 (2). Unfortunately, TFR is again seeing an increasing trend in these cases from only (1) in 2014 to (3) in 2015, and to (8) in 2016-2017. These cases resulted in $10,181 in workers comp costs and another $17,374.35 in backfill/OT costs.' To reduce exposure to injury, TFR purchased a power stretcher and is procuring a new rescue vehicle to handle the increasing call volume. With this contribution, TFR is only requesting grant assistance to help purchase one power loader system to load and unload patients from this new rescue. Since the average cost of a back injury related to a worker's comp claim is between $40,000 - $80,000 per case, reducing injuries by just one/year provides an ample return on investment.6 D) Consequences if not funded: To reduce costs and still have a dependable rescue, the City must now lease this new vehicle. Although less, the cost does not include the loader which, if not funded, will not readily be in the new vehicle. With rescue staff continuing to load/unload patients manually, the number of transports, patient -transport related injuries, and costs to the taxpayer are expected to increase. As noted above, this probability is enhanced due to increasing call volumes and the increased patient size. On - scene times may also be delayed waiting for a power -loader equipped rescue to arrive and assist with patient movement and transport. Over the long term, TFR will look for other items to cut to pay for the loader, such as foregoing the purchase of other vital rescue equipment such as a Homatro Tool Power Unit that is at the end of its useful life, problematic and must be replaced. E) The geographic area to be addressed: This grant will serve the entire 13 square miles of the City of Tamarac, as well as Broward County's approx. 1.9 million people over about 1,220 sq. miles. Tamarac Fire Rescue has four fire stations and uses a minimum of four Advanced Life Support (ALS) rescues and three ALS engines serving a population over 63,000 as well as the tremendous number of seasonal resident "snow -birds" arriving to south Florida annually. Tamarac also has automatic and/or mutual aid agreements with border cities, encompassing approximately 25 square miles. In 2017 alone, TFR handled 1,119 calls for aid outside City limits. F) Proposed Project Time Frames: TFR will begin procurement of the load system immediately upon award notification and purchase approval by City Commission. Once received, TFR estimates system will be installed within 90 days of receipt, including training of rescue personnel. After installation, tracking of employee injuries and patient transports compared to previous years will be evaluated (see #16). G) Data sources: 'City of Tamarac and TFR In-house data records 2US Census Bureau — Census.gov, 1993 — 2017 Population and Housing Unit Estimates 3United States. City of Tamarac. City of Tamarac FY2018 Adopted Budget; 2017. 4Trust for America's Health and Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The State of Obesity 2017; 2017, https://stateofobesity.org/states/fl/. 5Waterloo News (2017). Powered stretchers could reduce injuries, keep paramedics on the job (Press Release). https://uwaterloo.ca/news/news/powered-stretchers-could-reduce-injuries-keep-paramedics-job. 6Encompas Group, LLC. The Direct and Indirect Costs of Workplace Injuries; 2010, http://www.encompassgroup.net/contenVpdf/safe patient handling/Cost%20of%20Workplace%201njuries. pdf 7Eglitis, Niklays. "Fresh Perspectives on Safer Patient Lifting and Moving." Journal of Emergency Medical Services (JEMS). Volume-42. Issue-10 (2017): Pages 1 &10. BBrandel, Robert,"EMS Safety, Stretchers, and Stretcher Handling"(2016). Student Writing.9. http://commons.vccs.edu/student—writing/9. H) Statement attesting to no duplication: During the 2012 and 2013 grant cycles, the City of Tamarac was awarded six power load systems to outfit six rescue vehicles (3-units per grant cycle). Five years later, this 2018 application requests one final power load system to expand and improve rescue services by outfitting a new rescue vehicle with this safety equipment. In addition to reducing injuries, the additional power loader will help achieve consistency in our rescue vehicles and meet our goal of reducing the recent uptick in injury trend data. 11 Outcome for Projects that Provide or Effect Direct Services to Emergency Victims A) 12-Month Situation — In 2017 alone, Tamarac Fire Rescue responded to 11,357 EMS -related calls. These call data are up from 7,502 or a whopping 51.4% from only five years ago in 2012. Moreover, based on injury review data, the average patient weight on injuries reported continues to be 325 lbs. Resulting medical claims appear to be increasing as well. The increasing trend in claims range from only one injury in 2014 (1 upper back); to three injuries in 2015 (1 Neck, 1 Lower Back, and 1 Shoulder); to 4 injuries in 2016 (1 Shoulder, 1 Lower Back, 1 Shoulder); and another 4 injuries in 2017 (2 Lower Back, 1 Twisted Back, and 1 popped back); a combined loss workers comp and employee back filling amounting to $27,5551. Other injuries were first aid only with minimal lost time and are not in the calculations listed. B) Proiected Outcomes — Industry medical literature such as JEMS reports the reduction in injuries related to using patient lift assist devices and power stretchers show major improvements in reducing overall musculoskeletal injuries among EMS providers'. The power -load systems DOH -EMS grants helped TFR acquire in 2012 and 2013 assisted in reducing exertional loads our fire -rescue personnel and other first responders subject themselves to while lifting, transferring or moving patients. Thanks to the power loader combined with hydraulic stretchers, TFR lowered these types of injuries from five in 2009 to one in 2014. As mentioned earlier, the trend rose to three injuries in 2015 and eight during 2016-2017. As responders are still using a manual loader on our oldest vehicle, TFR expects to see a reversal of this increasing -injury trend by reducing patient lift and transport injuries to less than three per year. As noted above, the average cost for a back injury related to a worker's comp claim is between $40,000 - $80,000 per case, reducing injuries by just one per year provides an ample return on investment.6 C) Justification for 11A and 11B - The data numbers in Part A were derived from Florida Aggregate Data and EMSTARS Data is the actual figures for that year. The data presented and estimates in Part B are derived from Florida Aggregate and EMSTARS Data for those years cited and from studies/results detailed in a variety of sources that are listed in the justification section of this proposal. All figures are conservative estimates and much higher results are hoped for and anticipated. There is also mounting evidence in studies and actual incidences throughout EMS that indicate additional safety measures should be taken for paramedics in the field relative to their neck and back safety directly related to patient lifting and movement. The JEMS article cited above is an example of such literature7. D) Other Possible Outcomes — In addition to the above projected outcomes, TFR anticipates injuries to paramedics should be diminished due to responders no longer needing to place additional stress and strain on their backs and other areas of their body during stretcher operations and patient loading/unloading during transport. Although not all lifting injuries can be avoided, the expansion of this technological device to all TFR rescue vehicles should reduce employee injuries and keep responders on the front-line where they are needed for patient care. If the device performs as expected, TFR anticipates that there will be a positive impact on the City and TFR budgets by reducing the overall worker's comp and back -fill costs associated with these aforementioned injuries. E) Integration into 5-Year Plan - This project integrates into our 5-year plan by improving safety to our responders and transported patients. Most importantly, this equipment serves to reduce the number of strains, sprains and vertebral injuries to our employees as well as reduced the number of partial patient drops due to proper patient loading, particularly when a patient's weight is a factor. TFR is trying to maintain consistency and uniformity with our current rescue vehicle inventory. Our current rescue vehicle inventory are equipped with power load system and power cots. If Grant is awarded, all our rescue vehicles will be equipped with the power load system and reduce increasing injury trend. 15. Statutory Considerations and Criteria A) Serve the population: This grant will provide the needed risk protection to all EMS personnel and patients. The grant award will serve the entire population of Broward County through the provision of safe transport for all our patients, both of average weight and bariatric. B) Conform to State Standards: This project specifically helps Tamarac Fire Rescue address Goal 9.4, 2010-2014 draft Statewide EMS Goals and Objectives, which aims to "reduce the number of on-the-job injuries." Working with a power stretcher, the power lifting device could reduce the number of patient and personnel injuries by half and beyond, thereby reducing workers compensation, litigation claims and backfill expenses to the City. C) Minimum equipment and supplies: Yes. Currently under Chapter 64J, stretcher lifting devices meet all FDA, state and local requirements for safe loading/unloading and transport of a patient. D) Communications: N/A E) Enable your organization to improve or expand: This project improves the provision of EMS services within Tamarac and Broward County through the provision of safe transport of all our patients. In addition, the device will continue to reduce the potential number of injuries related to patient lifting and loading as well as providing a resource to any other jurisdiction requesting automatic/ mutual aid routine assistance and in times of declared regional, state or national disasters, when assistance is requested. Tamarac Veterans Affairs Committee 6001 Nob Hill Road ♦ Tamarac, FL 33321 January 19, 2018 To Whom It May Concern: The Tamarac Veterans Affairs Committee would like to offer a letter of support to the City of Tamarac for their grant application for EMS Matching Grant funds from the Florida Department of Health. First responder services are vital to Tamarac residents and an automatic stretcher loader will assist our first responder staff in doing their jobs more safely. It is our understanding that the machine that lifts the stretcher into the ambulance will reduce the number of back injuries sustained by our first responder and rescue staff. It will also enhance the safety services paramedics provide to their patients. The loader can also be used to lift patients who are gravitationally challenged and/or are bariatric patients. We thank you in advance for your efforts to improve the work environment for Tamarac rescue personnel and the direct services provided to emergency patients in the City of Tamarac. If you should require anything from the Tamarac Veterans Affairs Committee, please feel free to contact me at (954) 298-1003. Sincerely, Dominic Gray Chairman Tamarac Veterans Affairs Committee Barry Harris 7137 Wisteria Way, Tamarac, Florida 33321 (954) 770-9011 January 17, 2018 Mr. Gregory Warner Director of Parks and Recreation City of Tamarac 8601 W. Commercial Boulevard Tamarac, FL 33321 Dear Mr. Warner: The information provided regarding the EMS Matching Grant Program was very interesting and informative. The Parks and Recreation Board is pleased to support the City's efforts to obtain new equipment for Tamarac Fire Rescue. A new power loader will help both first responder and rescue staff, as well as, the patents being served by them, especially our seniors. Our understanding is that the new loader can reduce the number of injuries to Fire Rescue staff, therefore reducing medical costs and overtime costs to the City. The loader will also assist our residents who may be experiencing any number of challenges, including gravitational or bariatric issues. Again, thank you for the information. If I can be of any assistance, please do not hesitate to contact me. The board and I look forward to hearing more from you on this important grant application. Sincerely, Barry Harris, Chair Tamarac Parks and Recreation Board PARKS AND RECREATION FOUNDATION OF TAMARAC January 22, 2018 Mr. Gregory Warner Director Tamarac Parks & Recreation Department 6001 Nob Hill Road Tamarac, FL 33321 Dear Greg: P.A.R.O.T. 6001 Nob Hill Road Tamarac, FL 33321 Phone:954-597-3621 Fax:954-597-3650 The Tamarac Parks and Recreation Foundation would like to provide you with a letter of support to include with your application to the Florida Department of Health for the Emergency Medical Services Matching Grant Program. We are looking forward to the news that the City of Tamarac does indeed get awarded grant funds for a power loader to assist with lifting stretchers into our first responder ambulances. The Foundation members realize that this addition will improve the care to patients, allowing first responders to assist them safely. We also understand that this "loader" will go into a new City rescue vehicle and will be helpful to our first responders and rescue staff, reducing the number of back injuries, strains and sprains. Please keep our group apprised of the status of your grant application. We look forward to hearing the great news that the City of Tamarac has been awarded funding for this useful equipment. Sincerely, Carol Krellin Vice Chair