EMS Planner Team Monthly Summary
The planner team has been off to a strong start, both within their individual AORs and collectively as a project team. Individually, each planner is approaching counties and individual agencies within their AOR in a manner that is most productive for them. Some planners are taking a broad approach by connecting with all stakeholders at once, while others are focusing on a county-by-county or stakeholder audience. The variety of approaches means that some stakeholder interviews are being conducted virtually, individually in-person, and/or formal settings as an agenda item during a commissioner meeting. The end goal for each planner is to connect and establish a working relationship with each stakeholder that promotes conversation and information sharing. One of the challenges identified by some of the planners has been making an initial connection. Individual emails have been sent to various identified agency contacts and county officials, but follow-up has not always been received. This serves as a gentle reminder to verify that your agency contact information is up-to-date with the Bureau's license management system (IGEMS). Please check your email inbox and possibly the spam/junk folder if you are identified as the agency’s contact. If your agency or county has not been contacted with an introductory email as of yet, please refer to the Bureau’s website (www. idahoems. org>EMS Sustainability Task Force> EMS Planners Site) to identify your AOR’s planner and to reach out to establish that connection.
Collectively, the planners have continued to meet weekly to focus their attention toward the identified EMS system/environmental scan data elements. Toward the middle of the month, construction of a surveying tool began in an effort to facilitate the collection of large-scale information and to supplement direct stakeholder interviews. This tool and its contents will continue to be refined. The Bureau and additional EMS entities will need to approve this survey tool in early to mid-March. From there, it will be introduced to EMS agencies as a means to collect data relevant to this project, allowing planners to compare findings from all counties in one centralized platform. This county-focused data (not necessarily agency-specific data) will be used to construct each county's plan in the upcoming months.
Looking into March the planner team will continue to:
- Meet weekly to discuss project progress and data tracking items
- Attend an in-person working session
- Engage in EMS committee/task force meetings
Planners will focus their initial efforts toward completing their county-focused EMS system/environmental scans throughout March, April, and into May while drafting county plans nearing May and June.
NORTH AOR:
Met with Kootenai EMS, Kootenai Fire, Bonner County Commissioners Precinct 3, Schweitzer Fire Department, and Bonner General Hospital.
- Rescheduling visits with Latah County and Bonner due to weather.
NORTH CENTRAL AOR:
Met with Lewiston Fire, Riggins/Salmon River Ambulance District, Association of Counties, Winchester QRU, McCall Fire, Donnelly Rural Fire, Payette County, Lowell QRU, and Valley County Commissioners.
SOUTHWEST AOR:
Met with Camas County Ambulance, Ada County, Acute Rescue, Parma Ambulance, Elmore Ambulance, Garden Valley Fire District, Gowen Field Fire Department, Prairie QRU, Orchard Fire District, and Ada County Commissioners.
SOUTH CENTRAL AOR:
Met with Hagerman Fire, Blaine County Medical Director, Minidoka Memorial, Minidoka Fire Protection District, Burley Fire Department, Blaine County Commissioners, and Sun Valley Fire Department.
SOUTHEAST AOR:
Met with Swan Valley Fire and Rescue, Shelley Firth QRU, Idaho Falls Fire Department, Fort Hall Fire and EMS, Blackfoot Fire Department, Star Valley Ambulance (Wyoming), Bannock County Ambulance, and a medical director.
EAST AOR:
Met with Clark County EMS, Fremont County EMS, Central Fire/EMS, Madison County Fire/EMS, Teton County Fire and Rescue.
