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File #: 2021-2282    Version: 1
Type: Resolution Status: Passed Finally
File created: 12/3/2021 In control: Committee on Public Safety Services
On agenda: 12/7/2021 Final action: 12/20/2021
Enactment date: 12/20/2021 Enactment #: 900
Effective date: 12/27/2021    
Title: Resolution authorizing the Mayor and the Director of Public Safety to enter into a Cooperation Agreement with the Center for Emergency Medicine of Western Pennsylvania for a Televisit Pilot Program.
Indexes: COOPERATION AGREEMENT/S
Attachments: 1. 2021-2282 Cover Letter Televisit letter, 2. Summary 2021-2282

Title

Resolution authorizing the Mayor and the Director of Public Safety to enter into a Cooperation Agreement with the Center for Emergency Medicine of Western Pennsylvania for a Televisit Pilot Program. 

 

Body

WHEREAS, the City and Center for Emergency Medicine of Western Pennsylvania (“CEM”) have previously entered into an agreement for medical direction services (City of Pittsburgh Contract #53493, referred to herein as “the Medical Direction Agreement”); and 

 

WHEREAS, with the continuing health concerns surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, the City is interested in ensuring that residents and other members of the  visiting public have multiple options for  safe emergency care; and

 

WHEREAS, the parties have discussed the difference between a teleconsult, which is currently occurring through the Medical Direction Agreement and involves CEM providing advice directly to City’s Bureau of Emergency Medical Services personnel, and a televisit, which would involve a new alternative treatment option for a patient directly with a health care provider after a patient refuses transport to a hospital; and  

 

WHEREAS, the benefits of offering a televisit option to a patient include improved care through a broader range of services (e.g. follow up, continuity of care, prescriptions and discharge instructions) and decreased costs as compared to an Emergency Department visit; and;

 

WHEREAS, the parties now seek to cooperate to make available an optional televisit to patients through a pilot program that may be offered to patients in the City of Pittsburgh for a defined period in order to permit evaluation of the effectiveness of and refine parameters for this innovative alternative.

 

The Council of the City of Pittsburgh hereby enacts as follows: 

 

Section 1.                     The Mayor and the Director of the Department of Public Safety are authorized to enter into a Cooperation Agreement or Agreements with the Center for Emergency Medicine of Western Pennsylvania for a Televisit Pilot Program for a term of no greater than six (6) months.  The Cooperation Agreement for the televisit pilot program must be approved by the City Solicitor as to form.