First responders in Sevier County teamed up with Safe Tech Solutions to assess the emergency medical services in the area. Safe Tech Solutions shared seventeen key findings and eleven suggestions on how to make the most of those services. Those findings and suggestions are listed below.

17 Key Findings

1. EMS is a vital and desirable and expected element of healthcare and  quality of life in Sevier County Utah.
2. Today, Sevier county EMS does not operate as a system, rather four independent bases with their own culture and expectations.
3. There are likely too many ambulance bases and systems vehicles.
4. All interviewees spoke positively of the clinical care provided.
5. Workforce recruitment and retention is, and will likely continue to be, a major challenge.
6. There is confusion about the vision for EMS in Sevier County.
7. The lack of communication for EMS leadership is a common theme.
8. There is a lack of consensus around the specifics of EMS in Sevier County. Such as where ambulances should be based, who funds it, who ensures the provision of service(s), who governs it, and who operates it.
9. Revenues are not being maximized.
10. There is perceived lack of fairness in the sharing of the financial burden of providing EMS in Sevier County. For example, today, all current operational costs must be generated by fee for service (billing).
11. Current structure, role and responsibilities, and staff accountability for duties are unclear and lacking.
12. There is a potential for working to wait/waiting to work violations.
13. There is a cultural divide between volunteer and FT/PT staff.
14. There is a need for actual crew quarters.
15. Current employee structure limits available hours for FT/PT staff.
16. There needs to be fair and consistent schedule requirements.
17. Ongoing leadership development will be key (culture, engagement, accountability).

11 Recommendations

1. Create a community and county wide shared vision for EMS
   • All stakeholders, operational and clinical expectations, number of vehicles and locations, current and future community growth, and assess communities’ willingness to pay.
2. Operate Sevier County EMS as a county wide EMS system
   • Determine the number of bases, provide 24-hour staffing, ensure bases have all the needed facilities.
3. Structure the agency more like a business and less like a social organization
   • Define roles, responsibilities, and accountability.
4. Invest in the role of leader
   • Investments in knowledge and expertise to lead communication, engagement, and a rural EMS workforce.
5. Maximize current revenues
   • Ensure the correct CMS HCPC codes and billing levels are used
6. More deeply understand and accept the needs of the current EMS system
   • What is desired by the community, what is financially sustainable, how to govern the system and maintain strong partnerships.
7. Ensure all who benefit from a county-wide EMS system, help support the county-wide EMS system
   • Resolve the inequity of how EMS is currently funded.
8. Verify that all employment practices and work expectations meet the US Department of Labor’s waiting to work, working to wait requirements
   • On duty, off duty expectations, on call work requirements.
9. Strengthen involvement with Sevier Valley Hospital
   • To assure positioning for current and future needs, possible future helicopter base.
10. Work towards building a cohesive culture
    • Among all staff, at all locations, including all employee types.
11. Create a schedule that better allocates resources
    • Ensure weekly and monthly staffing, at all times, at all locations.