Tom Lynch, director of Inland Counties Emergency Medical Agency (ICEMA), announced earlier this month that The Abaris Group has voluntarily withdrawn as the consultant tasked with conducting an EMS system evaluation.

The Abaris Group entered into an agreement with ICEMA on March 26, 2013, to conduct an evaluation of the San Bernardino County ground medical transportation system. That evaluation was also to have included the potential redesign of the EMS transportation plan and consideration for the potential impact of health care reform. The system evaluation is the first step in the process of what was planned to then put the ambulance contract out to bid. The next step has yet to be determined.

ICEMA will meet with the County Administrative Office and County Counsel to determine what direction the evaluation takes. There is an important upcoming deadline in December for the potential renewal of the one-year extension in the contract with the current 9-1-1 provider, which is AMR.

The San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors approved a two-year extension to the current contract in May 2012, with the possibility of a one-year extension at that time.

Contact: Dimitrios Alexiou
(951) 222-2284, dalexiou@hasc.org