HomeMy WebLinkAboutMed-Trans dba Hartson Medical Services - Basic and Advanced Life Support Services - 1987AGREEMENT
BETWEEN
THE CITY OF NATIONAL CITY
AND
HARTSON MEDICAL SERVICES
FOR
BASIC AND ADVANCED LIFE SUPPORT SERVICES
This agreement is made effective as of October 1, 1987, by and between the
City of National City, a municipal corporation, herein called "CITY", and
Med-Trans, a California limited partnership, dba Hartson Medical Services,
herein called "HARTSON".
RECITALS
A. Within the City of National City, there is a public health and safety
need for effective and efficient basic and advanced life support
emergency and non -emergency medical services.
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B. Various studies and actual practical experience have clearly
demonstrated that communities of the approximate size and population
of National City are best assured of receiving the highest level of
emergency and non -emergency medical transportation services at the
lowest cost to the consumer if said services are delivered by a
single, competent provider on an exclusive basis with the provider
selected by CITY on the basis of a competitive process.
C. On June 29, 1987, CITY issued a Request for Proposals, hereafter the
"RFP". HARTSON was evaluated and does meet CITY'S requirements for
basic life support and advanced life support services.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual promises herein contained
and for other good and valuable consideration, receipt of which is hereby
acknowledged, the parties agree as follows:
1. SERVICES
HARTSON shall, without cost to CITY, perform the following
services to the satisfaction of the CITY:
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a. Provide emergency and non -emergency twenty-four hour, 365-day
basic life support (BLS) and advanced life support (ALS)
services to CITY, with a minimum of one (1) fully dedicated
ALS Unit stationed within National City and such additional
ALS and BLS Units as shall be required from time to time to
meet response time requirements. CITY reserves the right to
require that additional units be stationed within National
City if response time requirements are not achieved. CITY
further reserves the right to house the units in a mutually
agreed upon National City fire station and/or CITY facility.
Tidelands Fire Station - HARTSON may utilize CITY Fire
station located at 2130 Tidelands Avenue (hereinafter
referred to as the "facility") for the purpose of optimizing
response times for medical emergencies. Said station may
also be utilized by HARTSON for the following activities and
no other activities shall be conducted without prior approval
from CITY'S Fire Chief:
1) Housing for ambulance crews and supervisory staff.
2) Parking of ambulance units and support vehicles.
3) Storage of medical supplies and equipment normally
used to restock ambulance units.
4) Restocking of ambulance units.
5) Educational activities including training of
HARTSON'S personnel, public safety personnel, and
citizens.
Facility - HARTSON has examined and knows the condition of said
facility, has received the same in good order and repair, and
will maintain said facility to the same standard that the City
maintains its other fire stations. HARTSON agrees that upon
termination of this agreement, it will yield up said facility in
a condition that meets said standard.
HARTSON will maintain the facility to the specifications
established by CITY'S Fire Chief. The Fire Chief reserves the
right to inspect said facility as often as he may deem
necessary. Any and all plans by HARTSON to remodel or
structurally modify the facility in any way will require, in
advance, the approval of the CITY'S Fire Chief.
Payment for Maintenance and Utilities - HARTSON agrees to pay
for all costs for utilities, routine maintenance, fire/liability
insurance and for routine repair of non-structural portions of
the facility should it deem such repairs necessary. Said repairs
shall not exceed $3,000.00 in any one contract year.
The CITY will invoice HARTSON monthly for said utility/related
expenses and routine repair expenses, if made by CITY, with said
invoice to be accompanied by substantiating documentation.
HARTSON shall make payment directly to the City of National City
City Treasurer within ten (10) days after receipt of invoice from
the CITY'S Finance Department.
Notice to Vacate Facility - Should CITY decide to operate City
Fire services from the facility or for any other reason need to
regain possession of the facility, CITY shall endeavor to provide
HARTSON with a 90-day notice to vacate the facility. At the end
of said 90-day period, HARTSON will give up said facility in
good order and repair.
b. Provide critical care transport, advanced and basic life
support services.
For the service area, HARTSON shall meet a maximum response
time of 10 minutes for 90 percent of all life threatening
emergency calls dispatched.
If it is found that 90% of all life threatening emergency
calls are not responded to in 10 minutes or less for any
calendar month, HARTSON may be required, at the option of the
Fire Chief, to redeploy units or add additional unit hours.
Should HARTSON fail to redeploy or add unit hours as
required, or otherwise comply with response time
requirements, within two months of notice to redeploy or add
unit hours, HARTSON shall be in breach of contract.
Response time shall be calculated from the time that a
dispatch is completed by HARTSON for the first dispatched
ambulance until the time that the first ambulance arrives on
the scene and notifies Dispatch. If Dispatch downgrades a
Code 3 call, the above maximum response time shall not apply;
however, HARTSON shall be responsible for responding to such
a downgraded call as is required for a non -emergency call.
HARTSON shall assume all non -emergency calls with a response
time not exceeding 30 minutes for 90 percent of the calls.
HARTSON will not be held responsible for response -time
performance on any emergency call originating outside the
City limits of National City or Lower Sweetwater Fire
Protection District.
Each month HARTSON shall document in writing, in a manner as
mutually agreed to by HARTSON and CITY, each call
dispatched, which was not responded to within the required
response times.
HARTSON shall make every reasonable effort to identify the
cause of such extended response time and shall document
efforts to eliminate repetitions of that cause of poor
response -time performance, if requested by CITY'S Fire
Chief. (Note: Time in the system is counted in seconds, not
in whole minutes.)
Response Time Exemptions - It is understood that "unusual
circumstances" beyond HARTSON'S reasonable control can induce
response times that exceed aforementioned standards.
These "unusual circumstances" include only unusually severe
weather conditions, disaster, or unusual periods of very high
demand upon the system.
Equipment failure, traffic accidents, or lack of a nearby
ambulance shall not furnish grounds for release from general
response time standards. If HARTSON feels that any run or
group of runs should be exempt from response time standards
due to "unusual circumstances beyond HARTSON'S reasonable
control", HARTSON may request that these runs be excluded
from response time performance calculations. If CITY'S Fire
Chief concurs that the circumstances do fit the contract's
exemption criteria, CITY shall allow such exemptions in
calculating overall response time performance.
Consequence for Failure to Meet Response Time Performance
Criteria - When life threatening emergency calls dispatched
(and not reduced in code) are not responded to within a
maximum response time of 10 minutes, or when non -emergency
calls are not responded to within a maximum response time of
30 minutes, the substandard runs shall be tallied and at the
end of each 3 month and 12 month period, a report shall be
generated to indicate the percentage of total runs out of
contract compliance to time/performance standards.
When HARTSON fails to respond to a life threatening
emergency call with an ALS unit, and it is necessary to
refer the call to a BLS ambulance, each call will be counted
in the contract compliance statistics as 2 calls over the 10
minute criterion.
If the percentage of the total response to life threatening
calls is less than 88 percent within 10 minutes for two
consecutive months, HARTSON will be in a material breach of
contract.
c. Provide first responder training to National City Fire
Department personnel, in accordance with policies outlined by
San Diego County's Department of Health, Division of
Emergency Medical Services. This training shall be conducted
during normal Fire Department shift training periods and
should not require overtime call-backs of firefighters. The
training site is to be within National City. It is agreed
that as much as 48 hours of first responder training would be
provided if requested by CITY each year during the term of
the agreement.
Additionally, National City Firefighters will be invited to
attend in-house training courses HARTSON provides to its
employees. These courses will be designed to teach pre -
hospital providers about new technologies and procedures that
apply to both basic and advanced life support.
Should CITY decide to participate in an "Automatic
Defibrillation Program" for first responders, HARTSON agrees
to support such a program including assistance in training
for first responders.
d. Provide and participate in disaster preparedness training to
and with CITY Personnel. This training shall be in
accordance with San Diego County & City disaster plans and
consist of two training sessions and participation in two
exercises per year in order to insure effective coordination
between HARTSON and National City employees during disaster
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operations. HARTSON shall make a reasonable effort to
provide a supervisory level liaison to CITY`S Emergency
Operations Center, when it is activated, for the purpose of
coordinating emergency medical operations for CITY.
e. Provide basic life support standby and transport service for
major alarm fires and other major incidents within National
City and contract fire protection areas. This standby shall
consist of establishing a "Rehab Operation" or a "Medical
Operations Division" to provide basic medical assessment of
citizens, firefighters and other public safety personnel and
appropriate direction and control during emergency medical
operations. These services shall be carried out at the
direction of the incident commander.
Provide basic life support standby services for Sweetwater
High School home football games and City -sponsored civic
events which require said services. These units may remain
available for emergency response should they be needed.
Standbys shall be limited to not more than 12 events in any
contract year. Any additional standbys shall be charged at
the discount rate as set forth in Exhibit "C".
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f. Provide a community education program with specific
objectives for each program area. Programs will be monitored
and reported to CITY on a periodic basis. Educational
programs will be conducted in a class room setting or through
a public awareness campaign and will familiarize National
City citizens with the following:
1) Infant/child injury prevention and rescue.
2) The EMS system in general and how to properly access 9-1-
1.
3) Junior Paramedic Program which teaches children about
their responsibility in accessing 9-1-1.
4) Cardio pulmonary resuscitation.
5) The following areas of widespread health abuse and
misunderstanding:
- drinking while driving
- the use of drugs
(especially in the schools)
- the use of automotive restraints
- following vehicle code law - "Pull to the Right"
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g•
6) Other programs and activities - EMS presentations for
schools; service clubs, etc; EMS demonstrations;
classes for other EMS personnel, hospital personnel and
convalescent home employees; blood pressure
clinics/screenings;
career day activities; speakers
bureau and press releases.
Provide comprehensive EMS communications and dispatching
services. This shall include: screening of requests for
service to determine priority and response level and to
select the closest available and appropriately staffed and
equipped EMS unit; provision of notification of appropriate
secondary resources to an EMS response; provision of a
telephone "Hot Line" between HARTSON and the Fire Dispatch
Center; and the installation of equipment to allow two-way
radio communications between HARTSON ALS and BLS units and
National City fire units.
Dispatch time shall not exceed 60 seconds for 93 percent of
calls dispatched. Dispatch time is defined as the time a
verifiable address is received until the completion of the
dispatch.
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If the percentage of calls that do not comply with the 60
second dispatch requirement is less than 88 percent for more
than two consecutive months, HARTSON shall be in a material
breach of contract.
All dispatch data shall be captured electronically on a "real-
time" basis with a computer system capable of providing
information to CITY in respect to address, times of
dispatch, response, arrival and unit identifier.
It shall be understood that National City first responders
will respond to the following cases:
- Chest pain
- Difficulty breathing
- Unconsciousness
- Obstetrical emergency
- Trauma
- Post drowning or post electrocution
- Overdose
- Choking
- Diabetes
- Seizures
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h. Participate in EMS system activities including development
and operation of automatic and mutual aid agreements,
disaster drills, paramedic ride-alongs, paramedic intern
training, and continuing education programs. HARTSON also
agrees to attend and participate in meetings called at
reasonable frequencies (not to exceed six (6) meeting per
quarter) by the Fire Chief for the purpose of planning and
coordinating EMS services.
i. Provide a complaint procedure as outlined herein:
Whenever a complaint is received, regardless of whether from
a health care agency, public safety agency, a patient, or the
general public, an Incident Report Form shall be completed.
The field supervisor shall conduct the initial investigation
with emphasis placed on identification of potential system
failures and deficiencies, recommendations for short and long
range corrective actions, and the documentation of facts for
future review and reference.
Whenever possible, an immediate face-to-face response
shall be made by a member of HARTSON'S management team.
All documentation on complaints and criticisms shall be
maintained for at least three (3) years and a copy
forwarded to CITY'S Fire Chief within 30 days of
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resolution or in a case where no resolution is reached
the chief shall be notified of the pending complaint
within a reasonable amount of time.
j. Oxygen Storage
CITY agrees to allow HARTSON to store cylinders containing
medical oxygen in each of the CITY'S fire stations. In
exchange for this consideration HARTSON agrees to allow CITY
first responders to re -supply CITY oxygen cylinders from said
cylinders. The storage system must meet with the approval
of CITY'S Fire Chief and be maintained according to the Fire
Chief's requirements.
2. SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS
a. All BLS and ALS ambulance units must be equipped and staffed
at all times to meet all state and county laws and
regulations effecting service delivery. HARTSON shall
operate and maintain all ambulances and equipment in a manner
which will not endanger life or property, and in accordance
with all existing and future federal, state, and local laws,
ordinances, regulations, resolutions, policies, procedures,
and protocols applicable to HARTSON'S performance pursuant to
this Agreement. The system shall comply with CITY'S
Ambulance Services Ordinance as codified in the CITY'S
Municipal Code.
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b. HARTSON agrees to employ paramedics and Emergency Medical
Technicians who meet and/or exceed all state and county
licensing and certification requirements. HARTSON will
ensure that all emergency personnel meet all continuing
education requirements specified by San Diego County.
c. HARTSON shall notify CITY immediately whenever any condition
exists which adversely effects delivery of satisfactory
emergency medical services to CITY.
3. FEE SCHEDULES
HARTSON is authorized to bill patients transported according to
the fee structures attached as Exhibit A, B and C. Patient's
billed shall be provided with varied payment options.
HARTSON shall operate a billing and accounts receivable system
that is humane, well documented, easy to audit, and which
minimizes the effort required of patients to recover from third
party sources for which they may be eligible. HARTSON shall be
able to provide quarterly and annual computer reports as
specified by CITY'S Fire Chief.
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In addition HARTSON agrees to meet with a representative of
Paradise Valley Hospital, before 10-1-87, and determine a cost
for each consumable supply item. This cost to be rounded to the
nearest dollar. This price shall be in effect for 6 months.
Should the hospital increase the cost of said supplies, HARTSON
will be allowed to make appropriate adjustments as described in
the current fee schedule. HARTSON shall advise CITY'S Fire Chief
within 10 days after taking such action.
Allowable charges for patient billings as reflected in Exhibits
"A", "B", and "C" shall be automatically adjusted on each
anniversary date of this Agreement to be increased by an amount
equal to 80% of the increase in the Medical Consumer Price Index
for the San Diego area. Additionally, HARTSON shall be entitled
to an automatic adjustment in the allowable fee schedules to
offset uncontrollable increases in cost in excess of 6% of the
amount budgeted by HARTSON in its proposal for any specific
contract year for any of the following categories of expenses:
- Vehicle physical damage insurance
- Professional liability insurance
- Workers' compensation insurance
- General liability insurance
- Gasoline, diesel, propane and oil
- Group health insurance
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- Long term disability
- Tires
- Salaries and wages
- Supplies - drugs
- Billing and collections
- Interest
The Fire Chief shall be notified prior to any automatic rate
increases.
4. AFFIRMATIVE ACTION
HARTSON shall comply with CITY'S affirmative action requirements,
as of this date, and shall maintain an affirmative action plan on
file with CITY during the term of this agreement.
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5. INSURANCE
HARTSON shall obtain and maintain at all times a policy of
insurance by an insurance carrier acceptable to CITY against
loss from public and automobile liability arising from any
operation or activity of HARTSON, its agents or employees.
CITY reserves the right to review coverage annually and negotiate
a responsible and prudent level of coverage based on availability
and cost of additional coverage and HARTSON'S risk management
position to that date.
A. General Liability: HARTSON shall obtain and maintain at all
times an insurance policy from a carrier acceptable to the
Fire Chief and City Attorney insuring against loss from any
personal liability or property damage arising from any
operation or activity of HARTSON, its agents or employees as
provided for in the agreement. Minimum coverage shall be
$1,000,000 Combined Single Limit Liability or the amount
negotiated in subsequent amendments.
The policy shall include comprehensive, premises -operations,
products/completed operations hazard, contractual insurance,
broad form property damage, independent contractors, personal
injury malpractice and ambulance and ambulance attendants'
errors and omissions coverage.
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B. Excess Liability: HARTSON shall provide a form compatible
with the primary policy.
C. A copy of all policies of insurance shall be filed with CITY
and shall name "THE CITY OF NATIONAL CITY" as an additional
insured. Said policies shall specify that the policy may not
be terminated, altered or cancelled without thirty (30) days'
prior written notice to CITY by the insurance company.
D. Workers' Compensation
and Employer's Liability: HARTSON
shall have in effect during the contract period Workers'
Compensation and Employer's Liability
full statutory coverage. The Workers'
insurance providing
Compensation Policy
shall provide for a waiver of subrogation
CITY for any injuries to Hartson's employees.
E. Notice to CITY:
shall immediately
claims, accidents,
litigation arising
this Agreement.
rights against
Throughout the contract period, HARTSON
notify CITY in writing of any and all
and/or incidents which might give rise to
out of HARTSON'S performance pursuant to
F. Failure of HARTSON to obtain the required coverage or to
inform CITY of changes
shall constititute a
make CITY whole
circumstances.
in coverage or status of coverage
breach of contract and HARTSON shall
on any liability created by such
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An "occurrence" type insurance policy, rather than a "claims
made" type policy is preferred. HARTSON, as an alternative to
providing the City with a Comprehensive General Liability Policy,
occurrence form, may take out and maintain a claims made form
with the same limits as required by this Agreement. The
retroactive date of such policy shall be prior to the date this
Agreement is initially entered into by CITY and HARTSON. All
renewals of this policy shall contain the retroactive date
originally set in the initial policy. HARTSON also agrees that
in the event its current insurance carrier, TriStar Insurance
Company, or any subsequent carrier which provides HARTSON'S
insurance coverage, offer occurrence type insurance in the
future with a premium that is not cost prohibitive, HARTSON will
obtain such coverage.
6. HOLD HARMLESS
HARTSON shall indemnify, defend and hold harmless CITY and its
officers, agents and employees from and against all claims,
damages, losses and expenses, including attorney's fees and other
costs of defense, arising out of or resulting from the
performance by HARTSON of the services specified in this
Agreement caused by any negligent act or omission of HARTSON, any
subcontractor of HARTSON or anyone directly or indirectly
employed by HARTSON or its subcontractors.
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CITY shall indemnify, defend and hold harmless Hartson and its
officers, agents and employees from and against all claims,
damages, losses and expenses, including attorney's fees and other
costs of defense, arising out of or resulting from the
performance by CITY of its obligations specified in this
Agreement caused by any negligent act or omission of CITY, any
subcontractor of CITY, or anyone directly or indirectly employed
by CITY or its subcontractors.
7. RELATIONSHIP OF PARTIES
Both parties hereto in the performance of this Agreement will be
acting in an independent capacity and not as agents, employees,
partners or joint venturers with one another. HARTSON is not an
employee of CITY and is not entitled to any of the rights,
benefits, or privileges of CITY employees, including but not
limited to medical, unemployment, or workers' compensation
insurance.
This Agreement contemplates the personal service of HARTSON and
HARTSON'S employees or independent contractors, and it is
recognized by the parties that a substantial inducement to CITY
for entering into this Agreement was, and is, the professional
reputation and competence of HARTSON.
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Neither CITY nor its officers, agents or employees shall have any
control over the conduct of HARTSON or any of HARTSON'S employees
or independent contractors, except as herein set forth, and
HARTSON expressly agrees not to represent that HARTSON, or any of
HARTSON'S agents, servants, employees or independent contractors,
are in any manner agents, servants or employees of CITY, it being
understood that HARTSON, its agents, servants, employees and
independent contractors are as to CITY wholly independent
contractors and that HARTSON'S obligations to CITY are solely
such as prescribed by this Agreement.
8. ASSIGNMENT
Hartson shall not assign any portion of this agreement or the
services to be rendered thereunder without the written consent
first obtained from CITY, and any assignment made contrary to
the provisions of this section shall serve to terminate this
agreement at the option of City and shall not convey any rights
to the assignee.
9. RIGHT TO REQUIRE PERFORMANCE
The failure of CITY at any time to require performance by
HARTSON of any provisions hereof, shall in no way effect the
right of CITY thereafter to enforce same. Nor shall waiver by
CITY of any breach of any of the provisions hereof be taken or
held to be a waiver of any succeeding breach of such provision or
as a waiver of any provision itself.
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10. SEVERABILITY
If any provision of this Agreement shall be declared to be
illegal, void or unenforceable by a court of competent
jurisdiction, such provisions shall be deemed severable, and the
other provisions shall not be affected but shall remain in full
force and effect.
11. AUDIT AND REPORTING PROCEDURES
HARTSON agrees to allow City officials complete access to all
operational and financial records and data (including computer
generated reports) pertaining to the services provided pursuant
to this Agreement. All records and documents regarding this
service shall be available in San Diego for a period of not less
than three (3) years. HARTSON further agrees to submit to CITY
at the reasonable frequency as requested from time to time by
CITY Fire Chief the following reports:
a. Dispatch Data: County EMS Report Forms (ALS & BLS)
b. Financial Report: Revenues billed and collected by payment
source for calls originating within the City of National
City, which includes a list of all transports. (Note: CITY
reserves the right to conduct spot checks of patient
billings).
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c. Response Time Analysis Report: Which shows percentage of
calls arrived within minute parameters and shows all late
responses for all classifications.
d. Exception Report: Which lists all response performance
exceptions.
e. Demand Analysis Report: Which is used to identify changing
demand patterns.
f. Presumptive Patient Codes Analysis Report: Which includes a
list of all diagnostic categories and their totals as to
incidents during the specified time frames.
g. Collection Percentage Report: Which shows a breakdown of
collection performance.
h. Call Summary Profile Report: Which breaks down all calls for
the month for reporting purposes and itemizes total
responses, total transports, and level of emergency of all
responses in the area for the month. This indicates
percentage of "dry run" responses for the month by area.
i. EMS Analysis Report: Which includes breakdown of all
emergency responses for the month supplying information with
regard to response, mode of transport, where the patient was
taken with regard to medical condition, and amount of calls
received in designated areas for the region.
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12. NOTICES
All notices to HARTSON shall be mailed to:
Chief Executive Officer
Hartson Medical Services
9573 Chesapeake Drive
San Diego, CA 92123
A11 notices to CITY shall be mailed to:
Fire Chief
City of National City
333 East 16th Street
National City, CA 92050
13. CONSIDERATION
This shall be a no -cost agreement to CITY, except for additional
services for which changes are allowed pursuant to the Request
For Proposal. Consideration provided to HARTSON for the
comprehensive services to be provided by HARTSON is that CITY
shall grant to HARTSON the exclusive rights to provide emergency
and non -emergency basic and advanced life support service within
the City of National City.
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14. TERM OF AGREEMENT AND RENEWAL PROVISIONS
The Agreement shall commence at 12:01 a.m., October 1, 1987. The
Agreement shall terminate at midnight, September 30, 1990, unless
extended as provided for herein.
Any decision regarding possible renewal of the Agreement or any
extension thereof shall be made and communicated in writing to
each party at least ten months prior to the scheduled termination
date, so that if no extension is approved, a new bid process can
be conducted on a schedule that will identify the new Provider
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four months prior to that scheduled termination date. The
purpose of this requirement is to allow reasonable time for both
outgoing and incoming providers to plan and execute an orderly
transition.
This Agreement shall be extended two additional years, until
September 30, 1992, if neither party notifies the other party in
writing (not less than ten months prior to September 30, 1990) of
the intent to terminate said Agreement on September 30, 1990.
This process of contract extension shall apply to the other two
(2) two—year extension options.
The contract may be extended for a maximum of three extension
periods of two years each, provided HARTSON has met the
requirements of CITY and has earned the right to negotiate for
renewal based on an examination of the following guidelines:
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- HARTSON maintains a stable workforce with an annual turnover
rate below 25 percent, excluding internal company promotions
and/or transfers;
- HARTSON has provided response time performance at a higher
level than the Agreement requirements;
- HARTSON has provided clinical performance significantly above
the minimum requirements of the Agreement;
- HARTSON has made diligent and demonstrable progress
meeting equal opportunity program goals;
toward
- HARTSON has made diligent and demonstrable progress toward
meeting community education program objectives;
- HARTSON has initiated at its own expense, innovative programs
to improve system performance.
CITY reserves the right to take other factors into consideration,
such as HARTSON'S responsiveness and cooperation in relationships
with CITY, County Emergency Medical Services and the Base
Hospitals.
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15. BREACH OF CONTRACT
a. General Provisions:
1) CITY shall have the right to terminate or cancel the
agreement in the event that HARTSON defaults in the
performance or fulfillment of any material covenant or
condition pursuant to the Agreement and shall fail to
correct such default within five (5) days following the
service on it of a written notice by CITY specifying the
default or defaults complained of and the date of
intended termination of rights hereunder absent cure.
2) CITY shall have the right to immediately cancel or
terminate, at its option and without further notice or
demand, the Agreement and the rights of HARTSON and
claimants by or through HARTSON in the event that
HARTSON: 1) makes repeated material breaches in the
performance of any covenant or condition herein; or 2)
make a general assignment for the benefit of creditors;
or 3) shall be adjudicated as bankrupt.
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3) Any waiver, acceptance of services, or failure to require
compliance as relates to the Agreement shall not be
deemed to be a waiver of any other breach of, or change
to the terms of, or operate to estop CITY from enforcing
the provisions of the Agreement. A consent to one
assignment by CITY shall not be deemed to waive the right
to consent to any future assignments.
b. Definitions of Breach and Provisions for Emergency Takeover:
Conditions and circumstances which shall constitute a
material breach of contract by HARTSON shall include but not
be limited to the following:
1) Failure of HARTSON to operate the paramedic and non -
emergency service system in a manner which enables CITY
and HARTSON to remain in substantial compliance with the
requirements of the applicable Federal and State laws,
rules and regulations, and with the requirements of local
rules and regulations. Minor infractors of such
requirements shall not constitute a breach of the
Agreement;
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2) Willful falsification of information supplied by HARTSON
during the proposal and contract development process;
3) Willful falsification of data supplied to CITY during the
course of operations, including by way of example but not
by way of exclusion, dispatch data, patient report data,
response time data, financial data, or willful
downgrading of calls triaged to enhance HARTSON'S
apparent performance, or falsification of any other data
required under the Agreement;
4) Failure to comply with or exceed the minimum employee
wage/salary and benefit package as submitted by Hartson
in the proposal;
5) Failure to maintain equipment in accordance with good
maintenance practices;
6) Deliberate, excessive and unauthorized scaling down of
operations to the detriment of performance during a "lame
duck" period;
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7) Willful attempts by HARTSON to intimidate or otherwise
punish employees who desire to sign contingent employment
agreements with competing Bidders during a subsequent bid
cycle;
8) Chronic and persistent failure of HARTSON employees to
conduct themselves in a professional and courteous
manner, and to present a professional appearance, to the
extent that the CITY`S reputation suffers;
9) Failure to comply with approved rate setting, billing and
collection procedures;
10) Failure to respond to 88 percent of the life threatening
calls with an ALS response within 10 minutes or less for
two consecutive months;
11) Failure to respond to 88 percent of the non -emergency
calls in 30 minutes or less for two consecutive months;
12) Failure to dispatch 88 percent of runs in 60 seconds or
less for two consecutive months.
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In the event CITY determines that a material breach has
occurred, and if the nature of the breach is, in CITY'S
opinion, in consultation with County EMS Medical Director
or designee, such that public health and safety are
endangered, and after HARTSON has been given written
notice and reasonable opportunity to correct the
deficiency, and fails to do so, the matter shall be
presented to the City Council for review.
If the City Council concurs that health and safety would
be endangered by allowing HARTSON to continue its
operations, HARTSON shall cooperate completely with CITY
to locate an interim provider until such time as a proper
RFP process can be conducted.
HARTSON shall not be prohibited from disputing any such
findings of material breach through litigation, provided,
however, that such litigation shall not have the effect
of delaying, in any way, the take over of another
provider. Neither shall such dispute by HARTSON delay
CITY'S access to the performance security provided for
herein.
33
These provisions are specifically stipulated and agreed
to by both parties as being reasonable and necessary to
the protection of public health and safety, and any legal
dispute concerning the finding that a breach has occurred
shall be initiated and shall take place only after the
takeover has been completed, and shall not under any
circumstances delay the process of the takeover or
CITY'S access to performance security funds as provided
for herein.
HARTSON'S cooperation with and full support of such
takeover, as well as HARTSON'S immediate release of
performance security funds to CITY shall not be
construed as acceptance by HARTSON of the finding of
material breach, and shall not in any way jeopardize
HARTSON'S right to recovery should a court later find
that the declaration of material breach was made in
error.
If CITY declares HARTSON to be in breach of the
agreement on grounds other than performance deficiencies
deemed to be dangerous to public health and safety,
HARTSON may dispute CITY'S claim of breach without
allowing takeover of operations by CITY prior to legal
resolution of the dispute.
34
c. Liquidated Damages
The parties agree that the unique nature of the services
which are the subject of the contract requires that, in the
event of default of a type that endangers public health and
safety, CITY must restore services immediately, and HARTSON
must assist in effecting the takeover of operations, even if
HARTSON disagrees that the declared default has occurred or
that the default was caused by HARTSON.
In the context of such a takeover of HARTSON'S operations, it
may be difficult to distinguish the costs of takeover,
restoration of service, and the eventual recruitment of a new
provider from normal costs of operations during the interim
period between providers.
Similarly, if takeover costs and interim operating costs are
high, or if interim period revenues are low, it may be
difficult to determine whether such effects were the result
of HARTSON'S default versus the effects of faulty management
by CITY during the takeover and during interim operations.
Even if costs to CITY to implement takeover, restore
services on an interim basis and award a new contract should
exceed the amount of performance security, it is agreed that
the amount of the performance security will provide complete
and total settlement of damages.
35
This provision for liquidated damages shall only apply in the
case of a declared default of a type which is determined by
the County and the City Council to be dangerous to public
health and safety. This provision for liquidated damages
shall not preclude either party from seeking contribution or
total or partial indemnity for damages claimed by third
parties based on the negligent acts or omissions of the
other party.
d. Cost of Enforcement
If either CITY or HARTSON institutes litigation against the
other party to secure its rights pursuant to this contract,
reasonable costs and attorney's fees shall be paid to the
prevailing party by the unsuccessful party.
16. PERFORMANCE SECURITY
HARTSON understands and agrees that, in the event of material
breach by HARTSON, the nature of which may endanger public health
and safety, CITY is required to ensure continuous and
uninterrupted delivery of services, regardless of the nature or
causes underlying the breach, and HARTSON is similarly obliged to
assist CITY in the effort, even if Hartson disagrees with the
determination of default.
36
HARTSON shall furnish performance security in an amount of
$25,000 in the following form:
A performance bond issued by a company, appropriately licensed
and acceptable to CITY, provided that the language of such
performance bond shall recognize and accept the requirement of
immediate release of funds to CITY upon determination that
HARTSON'S performance is dangerous to public health and safety,
and recognizing that any legal dispute by HARTSON or the bonding
company shall be initiated and resolved only after release of
funds to CITY.
17. EXTENSION: CITY shall be entitled to order extension of service
for a period of sixty (60) days after expiration of this
Agreement by notifying HARTSON in writing at least thirty (30)
days prior to expiration of this Agreement. CITY shall be
entitled to order two (2) additional sixty (60) day periods of
extension of service, for a maximum of 180 days of extension of
service, providing that HARTSON is notified in writing at least
thirty (30) days prior to the expiration of each period of
extension and the parties agree on a reasonable interim
compensation for said services. Service shall continue under the
terms of this Agreement for the time specified in the notice, or
notices, from CITY.
37
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this agreement to be
executed the day and year first herein above set forth.
THE CITY OF NATIONAL CITY HARTSON'S AMBULANCE SERVICE
/AI e.ific4
George H. Waters hi1 R. Ayres Glen R. Roberts
Mayor General Partner General Partner
APPROVED AS TO FORM AND LEGALITY:
CITY ATTORNEY
38
EXHIBIT "A"
NATIONAL CITY RATES
EFFECTIVE OCTOBER 1, 1987
Description ALS BLS CCT
Base Rate
Base Rate (Dry Run)
Milage (Per Mile)
Scene Commitment
(after 15 minutes,
in 1 hour increments)
Emergency Response
Unscheduled Run
Night Charge (1900-0700)
Oxygen
Infant Incubator
Obstetric Delivery Assist
EKG Monitor
Telecommunications
Suction Service
CPR Service
Cardiac Defibrillation
Mast Suit Service
Bandaging Service
Splinting Service
Airway Service
295.00
295.00
8.50
40.00
*
**
00.00
40.00
40.00
00.00
100.00
*
00.00
135.00
135.00
8.50
30.00
295.00
295.00
8.50
50.00
40.00
**
30.00 00.00
40.00 40.00
40.00 40.00
00.00 100.00
100.00 100.00
00.00
00.00 35.00
30.00
45.00
00.00
00.00
30.00
30.00
30.00
EXHIBIT "B"
NATIONAL CITY RATES
EFFECTIVE OCTOBER 1, 1987
PAGE TWO
Description ALS BLS CCT
Compressed Air 00.00 00.00 40.00
I.V. Infusion Pump 00.00 00.00 150.00
Additional Attendant 135.00 135.00 135.00
Nurse Waiting Time 00.00 00.00 1.50
(After first 15 minutes)
Critical Care 00.00 00.00 135.00
Critical Care Service Charge 00.00 00.00 135.00
Extra Crew Assist 295.00 135.00 135.00
Border Crossing 00.00 200.00 200.00
Toll Bridge Charge 1.20 1.20 1.20
Consummable Supply Charges *** *** ***
Included in Base Rate except for patients with medical.
Included in Base Rate
Cost plus 77%. Please see "Exceptions Taken" for determination of cost.
�. HIBIT "C"
ADDITIONAL SERVICES PROVISION
NORMAL HOURLY RATE DISCOUNT PROPOSED HOURLY RATE
ALS Paramedic Unit
4 Hour Minimum $90.00/hr. 33% $60.00/hr.
BLS EMT Unit
4 Hour Minimum $75.00/hr. 33% $50.00/hr.
RESOLUTION NO. 15,430
RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NATIONAL CITY
AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO EXECUTE AN AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE
CITY OF NATIONAL CITY AND HARTSON MEDICAL SERVICES
FOR BASIC AND ADVANCED LIFE SUPPORT SERVICES
BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of National City
that the Mayor is hereby authorized to execute an Agreement between the
City of National City and Hartson Medical Services for Basic and Advanced
Life Support Services.
PASSED and ADOPrru this 22nd day of September, 1987.
detreWaters, Mayor
ATTEST:
Ioru
Campbell, C
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
Clerk
Ate,- 2Ee
George H. Eiser, III -City Attorney
Passed and adopted by the Council of the City of National City, California,
on 9-22-87 by the following vote, to -wit:
Ayes: Councilmen Cooper, Dalla, Pruitt, VanDeventer, Waters
Nays: Councilmen None
Absent: Councilmen None
Abstain: Councilmen None
AUTHENTICATED BY:
GEORGE H. WATERS
By:
Mayor of the City of National City, California
City Clerk of the City of Nati6nal City, California
Deputy
I HEREBY CERTIFY that the above and foregoing is a full, true and cor-
rect copy of RESOLUTION NO..J.S.,43Q of the City of National City,
Calif., passed and adopted by the Council of said City on ...9-22-7
(Seal)
By:
City Clerk of the City of National City, California
Deputy