Submitted By
Fire Chief Tom Ebsen
Reviewed By
CLP
Agenda Item Title
Title
A Resolution Approving a Mobile Stroke Unit Agreement with Rush University Medical Center and Authorizing its Execution
End
Overview
Overview
An agreement with Rush Medical Center has been prepared to facilitate Oak Park Firefighter/Paramedics to requesting a Rush-owned “Mobile Stroke Unit” outfitted with Rush medical staff and equipment/treatment services respond to an emergency medical call when it is deemed to be a stroke and the most effective response would be via the mobile stroke unit as opposed to Oak Park Fire Department transporting a patient to an emergency room.
Body
Staff Recommendation
Approve the Resolution.
Fiscal Impact
The Village of Oak Park will not be charged by Rush when the Mobile Stroke Unit is requested. The Agreement does provide for either the Village or Rush to be responsible for billing and collecting emergency medical care expenses based upon which entity accepts patient care. In no case will a patient be subject to billing from both entities.
Background
The Oak Park Fire Department is responds to 911 calls for emergency medical services as a local unit of government. The Fire Department also has the ability to request assistance (e.g. LifeFlight) in certain situations where it is determined by the Firefighter/Paramedics in the field that such additional services would result in improved emergency medical services.
Rush Oak Park Hospital has acquired a new ambulance which is available to assist the Oak Park Fire Department when it is determined by Firefighter/Paramedics that a patient has stroke symptoms. Rush is an academic medical center serving the Chicago metropolitan area and obtained a private grant for the ambulance which is outfitted with a Rush-owned physician clinic referred to as a “Mobile Stroke Unit” which includes physician consultation via telemedicine, a CT scanner, clinical laboratory and items necessary to provide mobile stroke diagnostic and treatment services.
Rush’s Mobile Stroke Unit will be available to respond to the Oak Park Fire Department’s request for support services seven days a week, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. The Mobile Stroke Unit must operate in accordance with the rules and requirements of the Illinois Department of Public Health.
It is noted that the Mobile Stoke Unit operates in several jurisdictions and therefore, as such times as the Unit is away from Rush Oak Park Hospital, it would not be available to respond to a request from the Oak Park Fire Department. The Fire Department will follow is standard operating procedures in such cases and transport a patient to the nearest emergency room (e.g. West Suburban Hospital or Rush Oak Park Hospital). Similarly, the Oak Park Fire Department is solely tasked with evaluating any EMS call for service and determining based upon the geographical location of a call if the most effective emergency medical response is to transport a patient to the nearest emergency room (e.g. West Suburban Hospital or Rush Oak Park Hospital).
The agreement is proposed for a one year term and will be considered for extension following evaluation of the initial term.
Alternatives
The Village Board could seek additional information.
Previous Board Action
N/A
Citizen Advisory Commission Action
N/A
Anticipated Future Actions/Commitments
N/A.
Intergovernmental Cooperation Opportunities
N/A
Performance Management (MAP) Alignment
N/A