Board reinstates county EMS advisory council and appoints 12 members as required by county code

Multnomah County’s board on Dec. 9 appointed 12 people to the Emergency Medical System Advisory Council, a body required by county code linked to the Ambulance Service Plan.

Health Officer Bruno and EMS Administrator Aaron Monning told the board MSAC is meant to advise the EMS medical director and program administrator on system innovations and improvements, not to make policy. Per county code, MSAC should include at least 12 members and at least one‑third must be people who may access ambulance services, staff said. The county has not convened MSAC as written since the Ambulance Service Plan took effect Sept. 1, 2018.

Officials said they conducted focused recruitment for professionals and community members with relevant experience and will request standard county volunteer disclosure forms to surface any contractual relationships with the county; staff noted several potential appointees are employed by agencies that have contractual relationships with the county (including OHSU, Legacy Health and Trillium Community Health Plan) and emphasized disclosures and recusal for conflicts of interest.

Public testimony included calls for a public dashboard with ambulance response metrics and faster access to system performance data. Commissioner discussion focused on the council’s role, the need for frontline worker representation, transparency about appointees’ contractual relationships, and ensuring MSAC complements existing EMS committees such as the Tri‑County Protocol Development Committee and the Contract Compliance Rate and Regulation Committee.

Outcome: The board approved the slate of appointees and instructed staff to schedule the council’s first convening, expected to connect to the ambulance service plan reassessment process so MSAC members can provide input to the outside consultant conducting the reassessment.

The vote: Commissioners approved the appointments by roll call.