Title
Receive briefing regarding a proposed ambulance service (Acadian Ambulance) to assist with Mesquite Fire Department's EMS Code 1 calls.
Body
The Mesquite Fire Department has seen a 57% increase in the number of Code 1 calls over the last five years. A Code 1 call is defined as a non-emergency medical incident that requires a response without the use of lights and sirens. These calls typically involve patients who are stable and not in immediate danger, but still require evaluation. These calls are important for patient care but do not warrant an emergency-level response.
Code 1 Run Volume by Year:
• 2020: 2,221
• 2021: 2,951
• 2022: 3,138
• 2023: 3,329
• 2024: 3,486
Examples of Code 1 Calls:
• Minor injuries without bleeding or severe pain (e.g., sprained ankle)
• Low-priority sick calls (e.g., flu symptoms, mild nausea)
• Requests for medical evaluation without urgent symptoms
To better manage this rising volume, preserve emergency readiness, and at no cost to the City, MFD proposes to contract with Acadian to handle a portion of Code 1 medical calls. This partnership is designed to:
1. Optimize Resource Allocation: Free up Fire Department ambulances for higher-priority Code 3 emergencies (e.g., cardiac arrests, strokes, trauma).
2. Improve Response Times: Minimize delays to critical incidents by reducing the number of low-priority responses handled by fire crews.
3. Streamline Emergency Response Operations -Reduces strain on Fire Department units, allowing them to remain available for critical emergencies and improving the overall responsiveness and balance of the city’s EMS system.
To ensure the success of this partnership, the Fire Department will implement a comprehensive Quality Assurance (QA) program. This will include:
• Regular reviews of Acadian’s response times
• Feedback loops to address concerns from patients, field crews, and dispatch personnel.
• Monthly audits to evaluate service consistency and identify areas for improvement.
The QA program is critical to maintaining high standards of care and accountability as we work with Acadian to meet the community’s growing medical response needs.
Recommended/Desired Action
Staff will seek feedback from Council about the use of Acadian Ambulance Services for non-emergency (Code 1) medical calls as part of a broader strategy to maintain high-quality emergency response service levels in Mesquite.
Drafter
Debbie Randall
Head of Department
Keith Hopkins