The Houston Fire Department (HFD) requests City Council approve an ordinance authorizing the application and acceptance of award for the 2022 Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA-22-135) grant in the amount of $450,000.00 with no cash match; for a total program cost of $450,000.00.
SPECIFIC EXPLANATION:
HFD requests to continue utilizing ETHAN which uses advanced video and voice conferencing technologies to bring 911 patients closer to physicians at a moment’s notice. The Houston Fire Department responds to estimated 340,500 calls (300,000 EMS, 40,000 Fire), on average that is over 800 EMS calls daily. With a high percentage of the call for low-acuity patients to the already of over-crowded network Houston emergency departments. Several studies in the region have concluded the more than 40% of 911 calls can be safely addressed outside of the Emergency Department, demonstrating the potential for improved efficacies, savings and patient care.
In 2014 the Houston Fire Department Emergency Medical System (EMS) launched ETHAN which uses advanced video and voice conferencing technologies to bring 911 patients closer to physicians at a moment’s notice. Traditionally, 911 EMS patient treatment and transport decisions are established by medic assessment, system protocols and off-line medical direction. American College of Emergency Physicians and National Association of EMS Physicians believe EMS systems may encounter patients who do not need advanced life support level care or evaluation; in these circumstances transportation by alternate means or to an alternate destination may be appropriate. ETHAN provides an alternative to the ED by utilizing an emergency physician dashboard (Real-Time Audio / Video, Patient On-Scene EPCR, zTrip Houston Cab Transportation Application, Clinic Appointment Program) to help assess and schedule the patient for primary care clinic, home care, primary care physician and / or transportation by a taxicab, self-transport or no-transport.
The Houston Fire Department also requests City Council to authorize the Fire Chief or his designee to act as the City's representative in the application process with the authority to apply for, accept, and expend the grant funds as awarded, and all subsequent awards, if any, to extend the budget period, and to authorize the Mayor to execute all related agreements with the approval as to form of the City Attorney in connection with the grant not to exceed five years.
Fiscal Note:
No Fiscal Note is required on grant items
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Samuel Peña, Fire Chief
Houston Fire Department