Bonner County ambulance board adopts standardized EMS metrics after quarterly review

The Bonner County Ambulance District voted to adopt a standardized metrics format for the district and its contract partner agencies after reviewing first‑quarter EMS performance figures at its meeting.

Deputy Chief (S3) presented the quarter‑1 report, highlighting an average countywide response time of 8 minutes 6 seconds and a longest recorded response of 32 minutes 35 seconds; clinical metrics included a 76 percent IV success rate, an 88 percent success rate for advanced endotracheal intubations and an 86 percent first‑pass rate. The deputy chief said the service recorded 14 cardiac arrests during the quarter, initiated CPR on 13 patients and delivered five patients to the emergency department with return of spontaneous circulation.

Board members said standardizing metric definitions will help the ambulance district and partner agencies report consistently to TSE (Trauma System of Excellence) and to the county. "We shoot for under 10 minutes," the deputy chief said of the 12‑lead placement target, describing the metrics as a way to make performance more descriptive and actionable.

The board discussed several operational details: trauma scene time averaged about 15 minutes 34 seconds for 136 qualifying trauma patients; stroke scene time averaged 12 minutes 58 seconds across 18 qualifying patients; paramedic intercepts were reported at 40 during the period. The deputy chief noted that ImageTrend work with the state's TSE reporting team should allow partner-agency data to be exported directly into the TSE format, which will reduce manual work.

Members also reviewed recent training efforts. The district completed optional‑module training that allows EMT‑Basics, under physician sign‑off, to perform IVs, intraosseous placements and certain airway procedures after documenting successful attempts. The deputy chief said companywide training occurred less than a month ago and managers will monitor individual provider performance if clinical rates remain below established targets.

At the Chair's request, a Clark Fork partner‑agency representative (S5) gave local figures — time to 12‑lead averaging about nine minutes, trauma scene time of roughly 16.8 minutes and no stroke cases in the reporting window — and noted some clinical details will be reported next meeting.

The board approved a motion to adopt the new metrics format for district and partner reporting. The Chair said the format will become the standard moving forward and that partner agencies will be asked to align their reporting.

The board adjourned after setting follow‑up steps: circulating the standardized metrics template, coordinating ImageTrend export details with partner agencies, and collecting outstanding clinical measures for the next meeting.

The district also recognized recent training efforts by captains and field trainers and noted ongoing opportunities for continuing education at statewide conferences.