Contact: Kathy Dolan, RN, Director, Emergency and Trauma Services, 319-369-4590

Engaged to evaluate 30-year old hospital based EMS program serving 9,500 transports annually and make recommendations for improvement. Project includes analysis of operations, system performance, deployment methods, facilities, fleet management, technology, billing status as a Part-A provider, the effect of the Medicare Fee Schedule, first responder integration, system finance and development of a regional shared governance structure allowing participation by several local governments, the Cedar Rapids Hospital Council and local healthcare institutions. Initial review completed. Follow-on project to improve response time performance and implement recommendations, including integration with Fire, ALS First Responders nearly completed. Currently redesigning system governance to establish a “Hospital Utility Model” EMS system in which the operation is jointly owned by both hospitals, four cities and the County.

Principals Involved: Shrader, Racht

Associates Involved: Washko, Leonard

Implementation: First strategic analysis completed. Improved Response Times by 48% and Cardiac Arrest Survival to Discharge by 300% at no additional cost. Second phase implemented new system status plan, incorporating multiple new processes, achieving 93% compliance with 9 minute urban response time standard. Public-Private partnership “Hospital Utility Model” established and management contractor in place.