To: Board of Directors
From: Lewis Broschard, Chief, Contra Costa County Fire Protection District
Report Title: Contract for Fire District Medical Director
☒Recommendation of the County Administrator ☐ Recommendation of Board Committee
RECOMMENDATIONS:
APPROVE and AUTHORIZE the Fire Chief, or designee, to execute a contract with Craig DeVinney, MD, in an amount not to exceed $331,000 to provide Medical Director services for the Fire District for the period August 15, 2025 through August 14, 2026.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Approval of this contract will result in contractual service expenditures of up to $331,000 over a one-year period and will be funded 100% by the District’s EMS Transport Fund.
BACKGROUND:
The Fire District’s Medical Director recently resigned leaving a vacancy in a critical position to support medical direction for the emergency ambulance transport contract with Contra Costa County and the oversight of the first responder emergency medical services provided by the District. This role is an exempt classification and is not impacted by labor considerations. Given the need for regulatory and contractual compliance and Dr. DeVinney’s experience, licenses, certifications, knowledge of and practice within local emergency departments, and the associated issues in emergency medical services (EMS) throughout the state and Contra Costa County, he is qualified and a good fit for the needs of the District in the contracted role of Medical Director. This contract was reviewed and approved by County Counsel.
Approval of this contract will allow the contractor to begin work to advise the Fire Chief and designees on prudent medical practice for the District and contracted ambulance personnel in the provision of emergency medical services (EMS), provide medical quality assurance for the District and the contracted ambulance provider's pre-hospital operations, participate and provide consultation in accordance with the District’s Clinical Quality Improvement (CQI) Plan, review CQI investigations and outcomes as recommended by the CQI team, attend the regularly scheduled local and regional EMS committee meetings, act as a liaison to the medical community, regulatory agencies, elected officials, law enforcement, and the public regarding medical affairs that are of concern to the District and provide input regarding District medical policies, and provide oversight for the District’s Controlled Substance/Regulated Chemical Certification, among other work the contractor will perform.
CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:
If this contract is not approved the District will not have the necessary medical oversight as required for the emergency ambulance transport program and the District’s paramedic service program.