San Diego County Emergency Medical Services Office

EMS Mobile App

All-Hazard Health Services Capacity Management Plan - Level 5 (Baseline Surveillance)

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All-Hazard Health Services Capacity Management Plan - System Stress Tools
Below are system stress tools that are used based on the All-Hazard Health Services Capacity Management Plan Level.
- Active System Stress Tools
  - 4:1 Patient to EMS Professional Ratio at EDs
  - Ambulance Strike Team
    - Agencies and hospitals may request ASTs, or other resources, through the MHOAC at their expense
  - EMS Transfer to ED Waiting Area Option
- Deactivated System Stress Tools
  - 9-1-1 Response Mode Alteration
  - Abbreviated Radio Report Option
  - Assess and Refer Option
  - DoD Beneficiary Destination Directive
  - EMS Treatment Considerations
  - Non-Patient Passenger Restrictions
  - EMT Transport Option Following On Scene Paramedic Treatment
  - Patient Masking Recommendation
  - Health Services Capacity Task Force Plan Level Staffing Augmentation
    - County-contracted Ambulance Operational Areas within HSCTF Plan Level staffing augmentation should contact their County Contracting Officer's Representative (COR)

Latest News

County EMS is hiring!

September 9, 2024, 12:55 PM PST

San Diego County EMS is recruiting highly qualified Registered Nurses with field EMS, ED, EMS education, or other closely related experience.

Quality Assurance Specialists work with EMS agencies, hospitals, training programs, and others to facilitate high-quality EMS delivery, system innovation, sustainability, and health equity in our community.

Please see the Quality Assurance Specialist opportunity posting for more information or contact the EMS Office with questions.

2025-2026 Protocol Revision Request for Input

August 30, 2024, 3:02 PM PST

The San Diego County EMS Office is pleased to announce the 2025-2026 EMS treatment protocol revision cycle is underway. All treatment protocols are available for comment between August 30 to October 1, 2024. To be considered for this protocol revision cycle, we must receive your comments no later than October 1, 2024.

Please provide your thoughts and suggestions by completing the Protocol Revision Request Form.

Ambulance Ordinance Update

August 29, 2024, 5:00 PM PST

The current Ambulance Ordinance sets operational, administrative, and other standards for ambulance, air ambulance, and non-emergency medical transportation providers.

The local EMS delivery system has undergone changes since the last Ordinance update. To better reflect advancements in best practices and service standards for regulating medical transportation. The San Diego County EMS Office has identified the need to update the Ambulance Ordinance and is seeking community input.

More information about this project is available on the Engage San Diego County Ambulance Ordinance page.

Update Following San Diego County EMS Board of Supervisors Presentation

August 29, 2024, 3:00 PM PST

Memo Update after Board of Supervisors meeting

On Tuesday, August 27th, the San Diego County EMS Office presented an update to the Board of Supervisors regarding the Comprehensive Evaluations of the Base Station Hospital System and the Trauma Catchment Area Designations reports.

After the Board meeting, the County EMS Administrator and County EMS Medical Director provided stakeholders with information about next steps in the process. County EMS' priority focus areas include access to real-time medical direction, quality assurance and clinical impovement processes, and comprehensive, countywide EMS system coordination.

County EMS is committed to modernizing the EMS delivery system to enhance patient-centered, equitable EMS care for all San Diego County residents and visitors. We look forward to collaborating with all the various stakeholders in San Diego County throughout these next steps.

Base Station Hospital System & Trauma Center Catchment Area Designations: Final Report Posted

May 30, 2024, 12:00 PM PST

Comprehensive Evaluation of the Base Station Hospital System Cover Page

The County of San Diego EMS Office (CoSD EMS) is pleased to announce that Public Consulting Group (PCG) has concluded their Comprehensive Evaluation of the Base Station Hospital System and Trauma Center Catchment Area Designations.

The Comprehensive Evaluation of the Base Station Hospital System Report and the Trauma Center Catchment Area Designations Report have been posted on the County of San Diego's Engage webpage.

Following the report publication, public comments about the report will be accepted through June 30, 2024.

Prior to presenting the reports to the Board of Supervisors, CoSD EMS and PCG have scheduled two virtual Zoom meetings on
June 5 and June 6 to allow stakeholders to:

Learn about the study process
Review the report's findings
Hear about next steps
Ask the consultant group questions

We invite all EMS system stakeholders, healthcare community members, and the public to participate.

Dates, times, and links for the virtual sessions can be found on the County EMS Engage webpage.

San Diego County EMS Fee Updates

May 30, 2024, 12:00 PM PST

Changes effective July 1, 2024.

Fee Category	Amount
EMT/Advanced EMT Initial, Transfer, or Reinstatement Certification	$258 ($75 state fee plus $183 county fee)
EMT/Advanced EMT Renewal Certification	$220 ($37 state fee plus $183 county fee)
Paramedic Accreditation*	$183 county fee
Mobile Intensive Care Nurse Authorization*	$183 county fee
EMT or Advanced EMT Replacement Card	No fee (conditions apply)
EMT Out of County Status	No fee (conditions apply)
Other Healthcare Professional (Paramedic Intern, RN, etc.)	No fee (conditions apply)
Ambulance / CCT Provider Permit Application	$6,400 (annual)
Permitted Vehicle Inspection	$373 (per inspection)
Air Ambulance Permit	$5,239 (annual)
CE Provider Approval	$2,350
Base Hospital Designation	$39,800
Trauma Center Designation	$57,000

*Paramedic accreditation and MICN authorization renewals have no fee as long as the credential is current/has not expired.

2024-2025 Protocol and Policy Updates

May 1, 2024, 11:00 AM PST

Picture of protocol updates presentation

The San Diego County EMS 2024-2025 protocols and policies are posted on the Prehospital Policies and Protocols page. All protocol and policy updates take effect July 1, 2024.

Please see the Protocol Packet, Protocol Presentation, and Protocol Changelog for more information about the updates.

New Online Reporting Platform for APS Referrals

December 22, 2023, 9:21 AM PST

Aging & Independence Services (AIS) has transitioned to a new online reporting platform for APS referrals. To report suspected elder or dependent adult abuse or self-neglect, use the new link below:

APS Online Reporting Platform

You do not need a username and password to use the new online system. In addition, a SOC 341 form is no longer required if you use the online referral option above. Referrals can still be made by calling the AIS Call Center at 800-339-4661. The Mandatory Reporting page has been updated and the San Diego County EMS Office is in the process of revising policy S-411 Reporting of Suspected Child, Dependent Adult, or Elder Abuse/Neglect to reflect these changes.

"Emergency Department Impact Status Scorecard" Pilot Program

November 29, 2023, 1:15 PM PST

In collaboration with hospital leaders and the Hospital Association of San Diego and Imperial Counties, the San Diego County EMS Office deployed an "Emergency Department (ED) Impact Status Scorecard." The ED Impact Status Scorecard is a novel system stress indicator allowing hospitals to communicate real-time facility capacity. This system facilitates the ongoing partnership between hospitals, EMS professionals, and County EMS. The successful pilot program, initiated May 2023, has been expanded for use across the entire San Diego County hospital system.

View the details here: ED Impact Status Scorecard Pilot Program Expansion

EMS Mobile App is Now Available

The San Diego County EMS Office is pleased to announce our new EMS Mobile App!

The app is now available to the community: EMS Mobile App

The EMS Mobile App is a browser-based application and works on any device with an internet connection and web browser. The app allows users to easily search through all protocols and policies using keywords. In addition, users can bookmark specific protocols and policies to quickly access them at any time.

The EMS Mobile App also has a references section with important resources for our hospital and prehospital healthcare professionals.

Patient-Centered Care Modification from Paramedic to EMT Transport from Scene to Hospital

Following removal of the tool that permitted EMTs to transport eligible patients after on-scene paramedic treatment during periods of high system stress, the San Diego County EMS Office received requests from EMS prehospital and hospital professionals for clarification of the currently authorized use of EMS Policy S-412.

The EMS Medical Director has issued the Patient-Centered Care Modification from Paramedic to EMT Transport from Scene to Hospital memo to provide guidance and clarification on this policy.

EMS Cardiac Monitor Data Retention Community Consensus Guidance

A community workgroup was formed as part of the San Diego County EMS Office quality assurance/quality improvement (QA/QI) program. The workgroup has developed a consensus guidance document to provide communitywide standards in EMS cardiac monitor data management.

This guidance is intended to enhance the QA/QI process by ensuring standardization in EMS cardiac monitor data integration and retention. The EMS Medical Director has released an EMS Cardiac Monitor Data Rentention Community Consensus Guidance memo with more information.

Treatment on the EMS Gurney Community Consensus Guidance

A community workgroup has developed a consensus guidance document to provide focused, patient-centered guidance for hospital treatments that may be performed prior to patient Transfer of Care.

This guidance is intended to bring clarity to interventions that are reasonable to perform during this time interval to facilitate a smoother patient handover process. The EMS Medical Director has released a Treatment on the EMS Gurney Community Consensus Guidance memo with more information.

Recommendation for COVID and Flu Vaccinations

With concern for the surge in COVID cases this fall, it is important for all of us to be up to date on our vaccinations. The harsh influenza season in the Southern Hemisphere suggests we may experience a severe flu season concurrent with this potential surge in COVID cases.

The EMS Medical Director strongly recommends COVID and flu vaccinations and has released a strong recommendation for COVID and flu vaccinations memo with more information.

Xylazine Alert for EMS

Please see the Xylazine Alert for EMS Professionals from the EMS Medical Director.

Additional information may be found at this National Institute of Drug Abuse page and this Drug Enforcement Administration info sheet.

Behavioral Health Program for First Responders

The Fire Captain Ryan Mitchell behavioral health support program is a free, confidential 24/7 peer-supported referral hotline.

This program aims to increase awareness about local mental health resources and decrease the stigma and barriers associated with First Responders seeking behavioral health support services.