Board adopts medical-director contract with IU Health group for EMS quality oversight ($162,934 NTE)

The Board of Public Health and Safety voted to adopt a contract with IU Health Care Associates to provide medical-director services for the city’s EMS operation at a not-to-exceed $162,934.

Brennan Harnett, EMS division chief, said the department holds two state EMS certifications and requires a medical director for quality assurance, protocol review, clinician clearance and training. “We currently, this year, have 20 hours... What we're essentially doing is buying clinical hours away from his time at the emergency room,” Harnett said, describing how the contract purchases monthly clinical hours that a doctor otherwise would spend in the hospital.

Harnett identified the current medical director as Dr. Kenneth Les and said the group that contracts with hospitals provides the doctor; the board confirmed that the contract is with the group and that the group assigns the individual medical director. Members asked about competitiveness and how hours are managed; staff said the rate is commensurate with comparable jurisdictions and that the group invoices the city for hours after the doctors are paid by their group. A motion to adopt the contract was moved, seconded and carried by voice vote.