August 13, 2010
Patient Centered Care Impacts Medic
Three years ago, Mecklenburg EMS Agency (Medic) initiated a collaborative process to review patient needs and determine what changes should occur to best respond to those needs in the future. The initial planning team included staff from the County Manager’s office, Public Health, hospital partners, area first responders, and local law enforcement. This process produced a shared vision for our EMS system that would be designed to consistently deliver the “right care, to the right place, at the right time”.
Medic recently received direction from the County Manager’s Executive Team and the Board’s Health & Community Support Services Committee to implement the first phase of a new system deployment model aimed at ensuring that the appropriate level of care is provided to every call requiring medical assistance. This prioritization is particularly important as MEDIC responds to a range of calls from high to low acuity. A cardiac arrest and an ear ache call would both receive a response from Medic when requested; however, the same level of response is not required for each type of call.
Medic will implement phase one of the Agency’s proposed deployment model beginning this fall while continuing to operate their 911 emergency response system without changes. Significant data will be collected and analyzed throughout this process and the results of phase one will be reported to all Agency stakeholders, including the County Manager’s office. The implementation of future steps throughout this process will be driven by the evidence/data collected and at the discretion of the County Manager.
Board members who would like additional information about Medic’s proposed service delivery model and/or visiting Medic’s headquarters for a tour of their operation, please contact MEDIC Director Joe Penner at JPenner@MEDIC911.com or 704-943-6000.
Federal Action Provides NC Budget Relief
As you will recall from your initial briefing on the state budget, the General Assembly appropriated $518 million in federal Medicaid assistance that had not been approved by Congress at the time the state budget was passed. The budget states that if the funding is not received by January 1, 2011, a series of cuts will be required, including a $177.5 million cut to state departments. We were concerned that some portion of this cut could be passed on to county governments.
On Tuesday, President Obama signed into law a provision that partially extends Medicaid assistance and provides funding to states to prevent teacher layoffs. North Carolina will receive $343 million in Medicaid Assistance funding, leaving a $175 million shortfall. Per the state budget act, this shortfall will be addressed by transferring money from a variety of funds to the General Fund and will not require state departments to make any additional cuts. It appears unlikely that the state will further reduce funding to counties during this fiscal year.
North Carolina will receive approximately $298 million to fund teacher positions. The state has not announced how those funds will be allocated among the school districts.
Board members with questions should contact Assistant to the County Manager Brian Francis at Brian.Francis@MecklenburgCountyNC.Gov or 704-336-2611
- Harry Jones, County Manager
CALENDAR REMINDER
During the months of July and August, the Board of County Commissioners follow a modified summer schedule, meeting once a month. The next BOCC meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, September 8 . Notice regarding Board Committee meetings will be sent in advance of meeting(s) if scheduled.