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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2022-08-29 Standardization Committee MinutesMINUTES COUNTY OF HAWAI`I STANDARDIZATION COMMITTEE Monday, August 29, 2022 County Building Finance Conference Room 25 Aupuni Street, Suite 2103 Hilo, Hawaii CALL TO ORDER The meeting was called to order by Chairperson Deanna Sako at 1:02 p.m. ATTENDANCE There was a quorum with the following committee members and staff in attendance: Deanna Sako, Director of Finance J Yoshimoto, Assistant Corporation Counsel Reid Sewake, Business Manager of Parks & Recreation Lisa Faulkner -Inouye, Business Manager of Office of the Prosecuting Attorney Sherise Kana'e-Kane, Information & Education Specialist II of Public Works Also present: Diane Nakagawa, Deputy Director of Finance Brandon Gonzalez, Administrative Officer of Liquor Control Chris Honda, Battalion Chief of Fire Kilipaki Kanae, Fire/EMS Specialist III of Fire Eric Moller, Deputy Fire Chief of Fire Crystallene Pacheco, Private Secretary of Finance Absent: Stephen Pause, Director of Public Works INTRODUCTION Those present at the meeting were introduced by Ms. Sako. MINUTES OF FEBRUARY 16, 2022 MEETING Mr. Yoshimoto moved to approve the minutes of the February 16, 2022 meeting. Mr. Sewake seconded. Motion carried. STATEMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC (AGENDA ITEMS ONLY) There were no written statements from the public. NEW BUSINESS Agenda Item 1: Standardize the purchase of Type 1 Cirrus Optimus Sound Level Meters for Department of Liquor Control Enforcement section. Members of the committee reviewed the written request and attachments submitted from Department of Liquor Control. Mr. Gonzalez — Our liquor establishments must follow the noise ordinances in the County and our Investigators are responsible in carrying this out. The Department of Health (DOH) Safety branch delegated this responsibility to each County. These meters are used to measure sound and respond to noise complaints. The meters we currently have were purchased 15 years ago and the recommended cycle of life is about 10 years. We would like to replace them. The meters are no longer called Quest meters, now called Cirrus meters. It's uniform across the State; all the Liquor Investigators on every island use the same equipment as the DOH. DOH personnel come to our island every year to certify our investigators on how to take measurements and prepare reports. There's familiarity with the device and the systems too. Ms. Sako — The meters used are consistent statewide with all the agencies and the DOH. It's easier too if you need it for court/hearings? Mr. Gonzales — Yes, the training and recertifications on how to testify and how to take measurements is uniform across the State. We want to be on the same system as the State and the other islands. Kaua'i is going through the same exact process right now. Mr. Yoshimoto -_ Do you have training lined up as soon as you get these new meters assuming its approved? Mr. Gonzales — Prior to covid, the training was occurring every year around March. We'll go to Kona overnight to an establishment that would annually get noise complaints and take readings there. This would be our annual check on whether there are issues. Due to covid, DOH was not sending personnel out but they are now. We are hosting a Statewide Investigator training in November of this year and one component of that training is DOH giving training to all investigators that attend. Mr. Yoshimoto — Sounds good. Mr. Sewake — Is that the older model? (In reference to the current sound meter on the table). Mr. Gonzalez — Yes, this is an older model, purchased around 2007. The company is now called Cirrus. Now the sound meters have Bluetooth technology. Right now, to download the data we still must plug the device via hard wire to the computer. Every year we mail the meter and the calibrator to an independent lab to calibrate because we are required to have it operate + or — one decibel for accuracy since it's used in court. We have two meters, one in Hilo and one in Kona. One of the meters is no longer within the court acceptable tolerance; it's beyond the 1 decibel. We would like to replace our aging equipment. Mr. Sewake — So far, have the devices have been reliable? Mr. Gonzalez — It's very reliable. Most common question we get asked is, why do we need this type of sound meter instead of using a decibel reading that you can download from the application `App' store? Many times, we resolve noise disputes between residents or people living in an area near a business and they both come with their own `App', but we use a lab calibrated device, so they rely on us on having the more accurate information. One example, a bar in Kona was saying their decibels were below the legal requirement. The meter they purchased from Amazon was 10 decibels off after we measured. We use our meters to calibrate everyone else's device. Since our meters have a lab certification every year, people back off and they don't dispute it anymore. Ms. Sako — Devices are 15 years old, and the life expectant use is 10 years. I can see why the State is looking at everyone getting on the same system. Mr. Gonzalez — For standardization, we wouldn't go out and get two bids because the company and meters are very specific for what the State uses. Ms. Nakagawa — Are the vendors you purchase from the same vendors you send to do the calibration? Mr. Gonzalez — Yes, but currently for these devices, their lab will no longer certify so we would have to send it to 3M, another independent lab who will calibrate all types of equipment that are older. Ms. Nakagawa — The newer model will be calibrated straight from the vendor. Mr. Gonzalez — Yes. Ms. Faulkner -Inouye — Is it because it's old? Mr. Gonzalez — A little bit of both. The equipment used to calibrate this current model is not widely available. Ms. Faulkner -Inouye — After approved, how long will it take for the new ones to come in? Mr. Gonzalez — We're purchasing one this fiscal year and the second one next fiscal year. These machines are anywhere from $3,500 to $5,000. We are working within our enforcement budget. One is still good, so this is our replacement plan and would like to get that by the end of the year or by first quarter next year. Ms. Sako — Also depends on the shipping issues. Ms. Sako — Any more questions? None. The committee voted and motion was carried. Agenda Item 2: Standardize the purchase of Sapphire Multi -Therapy Infusion Medication Pumps for Hawai'i County Fire Department's EMS branch. Members of the committee reviewed the written request and attachments submitted from Hawai'i County Fire Department. Mr. Honda — Pumps are what we use when we administer medication to our patients. It was used more for transfers from facility to facility. For this time specifically, we see a lot of traumas, lots of blood pumps running, pre -term labor, etc. Emergency Medical Services (EMS) has evolved. We carry about 35-40 different medications on our ambulances. With new standing orders and having STEMI or the Cardiology Clinic here at Hilo Medical Center we have a lot of cardiac transfers, therefore the types of medications that are given has also evolved. Previously, EMS used a three -chamber pump (Alaris), they were great, but we can no Ionger get parts or have it repaired. There's an uptick of transfers and new standing orders which entail certain medications to be administrated. We must administer these medications especially to those with septic shock or in cardiac arrest where it's better to use a pump due to its accuracy. Too much too little is not good like any other medication. We viewed four prehospital pumps, and it came down to two. One was the Sapphire and the second was a Nimbus. The Nimbus didn't meet the minimum specs for how fast we need to get one medication in. Bodyguard was disapproved by the FDA due to its inaccuracy on how fast it was giving each medication and Sigma's battery life was short. Sapphire is the most popular across the country, with American Medical Response (AMR) a private ambulance provider in the state as well as with the air medical providers. The changeover of patients from ground to air or ground to ground is much easier. If we're coming in from Ka'u or North Hawaii and we meet up with AMR, we simply disconnect the tubing and connect to their pump. It's seamless. The Sapphire pump cost about $2,200 which is reasonable considering the type of medication pump it is. Mr. Kanae — The cost of the Alaris we purchased in June 2000 was $4,450. Mr. Honda - The Alaris is a three -chamber, and the Sapphire is a single -chamber. On the average transfer we see 2 pumps used. We'd like to provide and supply our busier transfer ambulances, S. Kohala, Captain Cook and Na'alehu with 2 pumps because they would be running multiple medications. Kilipaki did all the research and investigation of different pumps in the prehospital setting. We're looking at having two pumps for the busy units, one for the slower units, and a couple spares. The preventative maintenance for the units is about $100 a year per unit. It comes with a one-year warranty. Every year the units are sent to be calibrated to make sure it's providing the correct amount of medication. The difference between hospital and prehospital. Prehospital is more ruggedized and water resistant. Mr. Kilipaki — In the hospital setting, there are a lot more different types of medication pumps they offer but they do not relay over to our field of work. The pump must be flight rated for use on our air medical helicopter. By having the single type of pump used throughout; if at any time we must do a changeover with our air medical helicopter we can easily transfer over to our air medical crew, and they can continue to transport the patient to the hospital. Ms. Sako -- AMR and Hawai'i Life Flight both compatible? Mr. Kanae — Yes, Hawai'i Life Flight and AMR both utilize the Sapphire pumps. They are the two biggest cooperating agencies we do complete transfers with. Mr. Honda — AMR is probably the biggest ground ambulance in the Country. Spoke to one of the local AMR managers and he cannot recall any of these pumps breaking down. Their primary mission in the state especially on Oahu and on the Big Island is all transfers. They're dealing with lots of medications and if patients are getting transferred it's something serious. Kauai and Maui do the 911 service and transfers as well. Mr. Kanae — We take AMR's word heavily. They use the pumps regularly as compared to us, we use it a lot Iess frequently and it's something we need to rely on with the medications. Mr. Honda - AMR has a good thorough evaluation of their equipment. In one county, they are running several hundreds of ambulances a day. Every equipment they go with, is used nationwide, and they do their due diligence. This is the reason why we are leaning towards the Sapphire. Ms. Sako — The other pumps you looked at; were they all like the Sapphire? Ruggedized and prehospital? Mr. Kanae — Yes. The Nimbus was much smaller, and the cost was much less, but overall looking at both costs, in the long run the Sapphire is cheaper. Mr. Honda — The Nimbus could only put out medication at 200 cc per hour. We must give 600 cc, it's not fast enough. Mr. Sewake ­ As far as ease of use. Are they comparable? Mr. Kanae — The Sapphire's interface is user friendly. It's easy, our paramedics are familiar with the process, it's push buttons, starts with a system check, has a catalog of different medications/formulas/concentrations we carry, it's redundant, the process is simple and has a couple double-checks. It doesn't eliminate medication errors, but it greatly reduces it. You must go through a check screen at the end to be sure we are giving the correct amount and type of meds and from there you can start inducing medication to the patient. The Sapphire is much easier to use then the Alaris. It's newer technology, the screen is better, easy to operate in the sunlight, and easy to operate with wet gloves on. Mr. Honda — When we are using these it's because it's a serious to critical case and not your average call. Mr. Kanae — We like the redundancy; the stress level is extremely high already. Having it all laid out with it being easy to use and read. Helps reduce the possibility of any medication error. Ms. Faulkner -Inouye The old equipment could administer three medications and the new one only one, correct? Mr. Honda — Yes. Mr. Kanae - We did look at similar multi -channel pumps, but the problem was cost. The Sapphire is approx. $2,000 and multi -channel pumps were running from $5,000 - $7,500. In equivalent version, the multi -channel cost $5,000 so it's cheaper to go with two single -channels. It is nicer when transporting, having multiple drips because there's less tubing and less equipment, but the problem is having a single brain for three -channels. If you have any type of equipment failure, you don't have a backup for the one; the one brain controls all three -channels and what we found on these pumps (Alaris) if there was a malfunction, then one channel is not useable. As it got a little bit older, we constantly had one to two channels, sometimes three channels out of commission so it would lock, and we couldn't use it. We would have to send to back to the manufacture. We were running it almost like a single -channel even it was a multi- channel. Mr. Kanae— Any more questions for us? None. The committee voted and motion was carried. Agenda item 3: Standardize the purchase of Badges from Entermann Rovin for Hawai'i County Fire Department. Members of the committee reviewed the written request submitted from Hawai'i County Fire Department. Ms. Sako — Looks like the quality is the issue with the badges and the press vs the mold? Mr. Moller — Yes, it's an enameled process. We went with the cheaper bid for a little while and we found them coming apart. The portion on the back was falling off and the badges were falling off the shirts, especially with personnel taking them off and putting them on. The color on the badges were coming off because it wasn't enameled, it was a pressed color in the badge. It's not a huge amount of difference but wanted the little bit more expensive badges that are enameled and with solder clasps. We would get more use of this badges. Basically, it's a one-time issue as opposed to a two three issuing out of badges. Ms. Sako — Was police using the same? Maybe not the from the same manufacturer but the same processed badges? Mr. Moller -. That's correct. We're also trying to standardize how we're doing our business and hopeful one day we can have put the two organizations together to get a cheaper cost of badges. Ms. Sako — We're approving the quality and not having to replace them. Ms. Sako — Any questions? None. The committee voted and motion was carried. ANNOUNCEMENTS None. ADJOURNMENT There was no further business. Mr. Yoshimoto made a motion to adjourn the meeting and it was seconded by Mr. Sewake. The meeting adjourned at 1:28 p.m. Respectfully submitted, 4t� Crystallene Pacheco