Valley Regional Fire Authority (Washington)
From EMS Wiki
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State or Territory WashingtonStates Served |
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Organization Type Government
Level of Government MunicipalAdministrative Division CityType of Organization Other Department Disciplines Protocol Origination County
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Non-Transport BLS Yes ()
Transport Destination Restrictions
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Type of 911 Access
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Type of Wireless 911 Access
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Primary Landline PSAP
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Secondary PSAP
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Contents |
Response System
EMS responses except for ALS responses to doctor’s offices involve a VRFA engine company, ladder truck, and/or aid unit. Paramedics evaluate about 17% of patients. Of those medic-evaluated patients transported by EMS about 56% of them will be transported by VRFA or American Medical Response.
AMR does about 90% of BLS transports. VRFA transports when an aid unit responds and the lead EMT decides to transport. Transport by VRFA is based on the wishes of the in charge EMT and the current availability of VRFA units. Once the decision to transport by AMR has been made AMR dispatched without lights & sirens. AMR listens to radio traffic and locates ambulances near incidents in the event they're dispatched. VRFA charges the same fee as AMR.
VRFA does advise certain patients that they don’t need ambulance transport and in some cases will not allow ambulance transport. Repeat patients isn’t a major issue for VRFA. There are county and state resources for dealing with repeat patients.
VRFA EMTs cancel and request paramedics based on their assessment of the patient. There's no written guidelines/rules for the canceling and requesting of paramedics.
Training
The department's firefighters are EMTs. Each quarter they practice defibilration and another EMS skill. Paramedics hold annual sessions to talk with EMTs about calls the EMTs have gone on.
Governance
The patient care guidelines are determined by Public Health - Seattle & King County.
Partner Agencies
VRFA contracts with American Medical Response for BLS transports. King County Medic One responds to ALS calls and is the ALS transport provider. Valley Communications Center dispatches VRFA and King County Medic One. It notifies AMR dispatch when VRFA requests AMR.
Customer Service
VRFA hasn't received patient complaints regarding the downgrading of ALS calls. Patients however are often confused why they were billed for ambulance transport.
BLS Transport
VRFA used to transport more BLS patients. Due to concerns about response times for first response units AMR now does about 90% of BLS transports.
Interaction With Paramedics
Once AMR has left the scene AMR is responsible for the patient. In the event AMR EMTs believe they need paramedics they can request them themselves. Otherwise its VRFA's responsibility to request paramedics. If VRFA EMTs strongly disagree with an ALS downgrade they can contact the VRFA chain of command on scene who will then contact the paramedic chain of command. Because transport times are only about five minutes VRFA is more willing to let some sick patients transported by BLS.
Funding
The department receives funding from the county EMS levy, fire authority taxes, and BLS transports by the agency.
