Contra Costa Health Opens Online Survey About Emergency Ambulance Service

Contra Costa Health (CCH) seeks public participation in an online survey this month to help gather opinion and experience related to emergency ambulance service in the county.

Data collected will help CCH evaluate the current state of Contra Costa’s emergency medical services in advance of writing and issuing a request for proposals for a new emergency ambulance services contract in a large section of the county.

The survey, conducted by consultant Fitch & Associates, includes questions about the responsiveness and quality of county emergency medical services, both for residents who have used them and who have not. The survey only takes a few minutes and does not ask for names or other personal identifiers.

Check the Latest News section at cchealth.org/ems for a link to the survey, or follow this direct link.

Survey Questions:

1. The Contra Costa County EMS System responds promptly to the community’s emergency needs.
2. The Contra Costa County EMS System provides quality medical care for the community’s emergency needs.
3. The Contra Costa County EMS System provides effective public education and community outreach to residents and visitors.
4. I am satisfied with the Contra Costa County EMS System.
5. Have you used 911 for a medical emergency?
6. Please indicate the extent to which you agree or disagree with the following statements:
   1. The ambulance arrived quickly
   2. It was important that the ambulance arrived before the fire engine
   3. It was important that the fire engine arrived before the ambulance
7. Please indicate the extent to which you agree or disagree with the following statements:
   1. Clinical providers were professional and courteous
   2. Clinical providers kept you informed about needed treatment and procedures
   3. Clinical providers obtained your consent before performing a procedure
   4. Clinical providers relieved your pain or discomfort
   5. Clinical providers cared for you as a person
8. Please indicate the extent to which you agree or disagree with the following statements:
   1. I was informed about my options regarding refusing transport via ambulance
   2. I was transported to the hospital of my choice
   3. In the weeks after my transport I was asked to complete a survey about the care I received.

Editors Note:

Although the survey was released, the county has failed to educate the community on “Level 0” and delayed AMR response times due to insufficient AMR units available. This is caused by high call volume, delays being released from hospitals for patient transport and geography of distance between calls.

Back in December, with high call volumes, Contra Costa County issued a press release urging residents to only call 9-1-1 on true medical emergencies due to lack of AMR units available.

Contra Costa County’s emergency medical system traditionally serves higher-than-usual numbers of patients this time of year, and this month healthcare providers and the agencies providing emergency ambulance service are especially impacted because of COVID, flu and other respiratory viruses.

Calling 911 for your health emergency is recommended if it involves:

• Chest pain, difficulty breathing or a fast (120+ beats per minute) resting heartbeat
• Numbness or weakness in any part of the body, seizures, or difficulty speaking
• Fainting, unconsciousness, dizziness, sudden severe pain or headache, or confusion
• Sudden blindness or vision changes
• Heavy bleeding that will not stop with pressure, or broken bones
• Choking, drowning or near drowning
• Severe burns
• Poisoning or drug overdose
• Allergic reactions, especially if there is difficulty breathing
• Someone making a credible threat to harm themselves or someone else