Liaison Program
Purpose: This program will serve three purposes. The first is that it will enable Fire
Departments/Districts and other agencies to have a line of communication to discuss calls, incidents and
other general issues. Second, this will allow CSMO employees and Fire Department personnel to have
an established route to present concerns that arise. The assigned Liaison will then address it
accordingly. Lastly, this program will assist in multiple training facets that will improve field care
between our partnering agencies. These will include:
1. Driver training specific to emergency driving of our ambulances. Specific emphasis will be placed on
how to operate our vehicles when patients and providers are in the back working.
2. Specialty training specifically requested by individual agencies.
3. Proficiency in our specialized equipment and assisting us in using it.
How it works:
-Each FD will have the opportunity to select a CSMO Paramedic as their personal Liaison. In doing this,
this will allow a solid line of communication between both agencies.
-The common communications that will occur in this relationship are as followed:
1. Passing along praise that was given after a call. This will include both communication from
our group and the other agencies involved.
2. Following up on a patient after a call.
3. If a personnel issue arises (protocol deviations, confrontations), contacting Management
immediately to handle these issues is the preferable course of action in these cases.
-The Liaison Program will focus on not only building relationships, but will also help our agency
work better and more efficiently with partnering agencies. Examples of this would be:
-Showing agencies new equipment and how to properly use it (new gurneys).
-EVIP pertaining to ambulance driving Priority to a facility.
-Zoll monitors and how they would interact with the new AED’s.
-Running big events/incidents (Codes, Traumas). We would be able to show the agencies our
expectations and how to accomplish them so they can assist in patient care in a positive way.
*As the program develops, this Program will adjust and modify as needed.
Structure:
-The configuration of this Program will be to divide the County up into 4 Zones. Each Zone will have a
Zone Leader (ZL) who will be a resource to each Liaison within his/her Zone.
-Zones will be configured geographically to make it easier to work with certain Departments/Districts.
North Zone
Jennifer Russell
Burlington, Districts 5, 6, 14
South Zone
Danny Weibling
Mount Vernon, Districts 3, 7, 15
East Zone
Danny Laine
Sedro Woolley, Hamilton, Districts 4, 8, 9, 16
West Zone
Scott Lang
La Conner, Districts 2, 3, 12, 13
-Chain of Command
Agency Representative->Liaison
-This would be the normal chain of command for an agency to report to a Liaison for
normal issues. These would include questions about patients on a certain call, partnering agencies
having questions about how a call went, or giving praise to a Paramedic on a particular incident.
Agency Representative->Zone Leader->Management
-This would be the chain of command for an agency to report to a Zone Leader when a
Liaison is involved in an incident, and the agency does not feel comfortable (or it is not appropriate)
interacting with the Liaison directly. This would be a very rare incident.
Agency Representative->Management
-This would be the chain of command for an agency when a disciplinary issue involves
one of our Paramedics. It is important to note here that Zone Leaders would be available to answer
questions and give guidance for situations that need assistance.
*Disclaimer-It is important to note that this document does not and will not ever cover all
situations. If there is any question about a situation, the default will ALWAYS be to contact
CSMO Management. As time goes on, and as the program is implemented, the need for this
SHOULD decrease.
*Disclaimer-It is also important to recognize the need for individuals within the Fire Districts
and Departments to follow their Chain of Command in dealing with potential issues. Either
the Fire Chief, Medical Officer or Designee should contact the assigned CSMO Liaison- not just
anybody. Chiefs also need to be kept in the communication loop.