System Design

The Pinellas County EMS Authority was set up through a Special Act of the Florida Legislature in 1980, which was ratified by a Countywide referendum of all the voters. Pinellas County's EMS Authority provides a "One Tier" (all units are advanced life support (ALS) - level; meaning all paramedic), "Dual Response" (two paramedic units are sent to each 9-1-1 emergency call) system. We are a "Public Utility Model" EMS system.

The Public Utility Model EMS system has certain unique characteristics which make it different from other systems. First, there must be a governmental oversight agency which coordinates the provision of emergency medical services throughout the entire service area. Second, the highest quality of patient care with a "patient comes first" attitude must prevail in the minds of the providers and administrators. Third, services are provided by contractors who are under "performance-based" agreements. These type of arrangements require results be achieved using the creativity and innovative methods of the providers. Fourth, sound business financial controls must be in place where the Authority controls all system funding. The ambulance system is designed to be funded through the collection of user fees and not reliance on tax dollars. Fifth, all Advanced Life Support (ALS) resources are sent to all calls.

The Public Utility Model EMS system is designed where the government not only regulates and oversees system performance, but the contractors are held accountable to meet or exceed performance requirements under penalty of removal, as well as fines being imposed. It is a system where the patient and quality of care comes first and the comfort of providers comes second. In this design, the government is a purchaser of First Responder paramedic, and paramedic ambulance services through a competitive process insuring that the most cost-effective provision of EMS services is guaranteed for the benefit of our citizens