Report 2013-116 Recommendation 9 Responses
Report 2013-116: Los Angeles County: Lacking a Comprehensive Assessment of Its Trauma System, It Cannot Demonstrate That It Has Used Measure B Funds to Address the Most Pressing Trauma Needs (Release Date: February 2014)
Recommendation #9 To: Los Angeles Emergency Medical Services Agency
To determine the adequacy and effectiveness of the helicopter services it provides to residents of underserved areas who suffer a trauma injury, EMS should collect, assess, and report accurate and complete data on the number of cancelled flights in each of these underserved areas, including the method of transportation used instead of helicopters and the transport times and trauma patient outcomes.
Annual Follow-Up Agency Response From October 2016
The 2015 EMS System Report included information on the number of and rationale for cancelled flights and was published on November 1, 2015. The 2016 EMS System Report is currently being compiled and will include information on cancelled flights, method of transport, transport times and patient outcomes.
- Completion Date: October 2016
California State Auditor's Assessment of Annual Follow-Up Status: Fully Implemented
Annual Follow-Up Agency Response From September 2015
Los Angeles County, through its EMS Agency, is in the process of developing a mechanism to reconcile the information of the cancelled flight to a specific trauma patient, and provide information on the actual method of transport, transport time and patient outcome. Its EMS Agency has reported the number, location, and mortality of patients transported by helicopter within the system in the 2013 and 2014 annual EMS System Data Report which is available to the public. The next annual data report for 2015 will have the added information on the number of and rationale for cancelled flights. The EMS Agency anticipates that it will have a mechanism in place to reconcile the information of the cancelled flight to a specific trauma patient and provide information on the actual method of transport, transport time and patient outcome ready for the 2016 EMS System Data Report.
- Estimated Completion Date: Year 2016 (Data Merger to be completed for CY 2015)
California State Auditor's Assessment of Annual Follow-Up Status: Not Fully Implemented
1-Year Agency Response
The EMS Agency collected this data for fiscal year 2013-14 and will continue monitoring all EMS helicopter flights that are cancelled.
- Completion Date: October 2014
- Response Date: February 2015
California State Auditor's Assessment of 1-Year Status: Partially Implemented
We believe EMS should report the information it collected regarding cancelled flights to clearly show the impact that cancelled helicopter flights have on its ability to transport trauma patients in a timely manner.
- Auditee did not address all aspects of the recommendation
6-Month Agency Response
The EMS Agency data report is currently being developed, which includes helicopter transport and trauma care data. EMS plans to complete and publish the report by December 2014.
- Estimated Completion Date: December 2014
- Response Date: August 2014
California State Auditor's Assessment of 6-Month Status: Pending
60-Day Agency Response
The DHS Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Agency will analyze data, develop reports and publish annual reports on helicopter transport and care of trauma patients. Data collection methods and reporting formats will be redesigned and reviewed.
- Estimated Completion Date: December 2014
- Response Date: April 2014
California State Auditor's Assessment of 60-Day Status: Pending
All Recommendations in 2013-116
Agency responses received are posted verbatim.