§ 50-65. General operating regulations.

All certificate holders, operators, and drivers shall comply with all state statutes and administrative regulations as following regulations:

(1)

Twenty-four Hour Service. Every certificate holder shall be required to operate sufficient ambulances, or relevant apparatus, as stated on the vehicle permit issued by the State Department of Health, Bureau of Emergency Medical Services and permit issued by the Board, on immediate call at all times.

(2)

Prompt Service Required. Every call for service shall be answered promptly. Patients shall be appropriately assessed, treated, packaged, loaded and transported by an Operator that is licensed to transport without being subject to unreasonable delays. All calls for emergency assistance requiring over twenty (20) minutes from time of notification to arrival on scene shall be reported to the Administrator with complete documentation of the circumstances, which delayed the response. Those instances where more than three (3) minutes elapse between receipt of an emergency call and dispatch of an emergency vehicle shall also be reported to the Administrator with documentation of circumstances.

(3)

Bed Linens. Every Operator transporting patients shall provide clean and sanitary bed linens for each patient carried which shall be changed as soon as practicable after the discharge of the patient.

(4)

Daily Log. Every Operator transporting patients shall maintain in a daily log upon which shall be recorded the place or origin, time of call, time of dispatch, time of arrival at scene, time left for hospital, time of arrival at hospital, and charges for each trip made and such other operating and patient information as may be required by Ordinance. Every Operator shall retain and preserve all daily logs for at least two (2) years, and such logs shall be available for inspection by the Administrator.

(5)

Communications. Each emergency vehicle shall maintain two-way radio communication with the location of primary dispatch from which it operates, as well as any additional communication capabilities required by Ordinance or state law.

(6)

Vehicles and Equipment. Each Operator's vehicles shall be equipped with the proper medical and emergency equipment as jointly agreed to by the medical director of each licensed provider and the laws of the State of Florida.

(7)

Certification.

a.

In addition to the State of Florida Department of Health, Bureau of Emergency Medical Services requirements for certification, each Collier County EMS paramedic, Class-2 Operator's paramedic, and Class-3 Operator that has separately entered into a contract with the County in order for the County's Medical Director to serve as its medical director for the performance of services set forth in F.S. § 401.265, and Chapter 64J-2.004(4)(a), Florida Administrative Code, must be certified by the County Medical Director. Each Collier County EMS paramedic and Class-2 Operator paramedic, that contracts with the County for Medical Director services, must work with a Collier County EMS ambulance for a sufficient length of time pursuant to subsection (8) for the County's Medical Director to properly judge the paramedic's capability. Salaries of other than Collier County EMS paramedics will be paid by the agency seeking the Medical Director Certification.

b.

All Operators, shall certify its paramedics pursuant to F.S. § 401.265, and Chapter 64J-2.004(4)(a), Florida Administrative Code.

c.

Class-2 and Class-3 Operators that have separately entered into a contract with the County in order for the County's Medical Director to serve as its medical director for the performance of services set forth in F.S. § 401.265, and Chapter 64J-2.004(4)(a), Florida Administrative Code, shall be certified pursuant to the terms of such contract.

(8)

Ride Time Requirement. Each paramedic employed by a Collier County EMS, a Class-1 Operator or Operator that has entered into a contract with the County for Medical Director services must work, at a minimum, with a Class-1 Operator's ambulance not less than one full month's work shift annually. Each paramedic employed by a Class-3 Operator that has its own medical director must accompany a patient on the Collier County EMS ALS transport from scene to hospital when the paramedic for such Class-3 Operator initiates ALS services on a patient prior to Collier County EMS transport arrival or if the patient's condition requires that additional level of expertise. Each paramedic employed by a Class-3 Operator that has separately entered into a contract with the County in order for the County's Medical Director to serve as its medical director for the performance of services set forth in F.S. § 401.265, and Chapter 64J-2.004(4)(a), Florida Administrative Code, shall either work with a Collier County EMS ambulance not less than one full month's work shift annually or must accompany a patient on the Collier County EMS ALS transport from scene to hospital when the paramedic for such Class-3 Operator initiates ALS services on a patient prior to a Collier County EMS transport arrival or if the patient's condition requires that additional level of expertise, as provided for in its contract with the County.

(9)

Application. Each ambulance or ALS service shall be subject to those rules and regulation as promulgated by Ordinances of the Board for the purpose of carrying out this ordinance.

(Ord. No. 04-12, § 15; Ord. No. 2011-36, § 8; Ord. No. 2012-04, § 2)