To: MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
From: PATRICK BUTLER, FIRE CHIEF
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APPROVE AN AGREEMENT WITH DIGITALEMS SOLUTIONS, INC. FOR ELECTRONIC PATIENT CARE REPORTING SERVICES FOR A THREE-YEAR AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $89,705 AND THE TERM SEPTEMBER 16, 2025 TO SEPTEMBER 30, 2028
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The Agreement between the City and the Fire Department's current Electronic Patient Care Reporting (ePCR) service provider, World Advancement of Technology for EMS and Rescue, Inc. (WATER), will conclude on October 6, 2025. WATER's quality of service has declined in recent years, and an agreement with a new vendor is recommended. Approval of this item would authorize an agreement with one of Los Angeles County's premier ePCR providers, DigitalEMS Solutions, Inc. (DigitalEMS).
BACKGROUND
In 2015, the Fire Department entered a five-year agreement with Source Code 3, LLC (Source Code 3) for ePCR services. In 2018, Source Code 3 was acquired by WATER, and the City consented to the assignment of the Agreement from Source Code 3 to WATER.
In 2020, the City Council approved a first amendment to the Agreement extending the term through October 6, 2025. At that time, WATER's services met all the needs of the Department, regulatory agencies, and local receiving hospitals. In recent years, however, WATER's quality of service, responsiveness, and reliability have decreased. Fire Department staff researched alternative vendors and early termination of the Agreement in 2024, but the City Attorney's Office advised against pursuing termination, and the Department elected to complete the term, which is set to expire on October 6, 2025.
The practices and requirements of regulatory agencies, receiving hospitals, and fire departments in different Counties vary, and it has been difficult for WATER to keep up with Los Angeles County demands. DigitalEMS currently services 26 of the 30 fire departments in Los Angeles County, and does not provide service to fire departments in...
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