§ 33.55 DEFINITIONS.

   For the purpose of this subchapter, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.

   AMBULANCE. Any privately- or publicly-owned motor vehicle that is specially designed and equipped for the transportation of patients.

   CERTIFICATE or CERTIFICATION. Organization in written form issued by the State Emergency Medical Services Commission to a person to operate and maintain an emergency ambulance, to act as an ambulance service provider or to exercise the privileges of an emergency first responder, emergency medical technician, advanced emergency medical technician or paramedic.

   DRIVER. An individual who drives an ambulance.

   EMERGENCY MEDICAL TECHNICIAN. Any individual certified by the Emergency Medical Services Commission eligible as an emergency medical technician, advanced emergency medical technician, or paramedic for engaging in the administration of emergency care procedures to emergency patients and for the handling and transportation of such patients.

   EMS.Emergency medical service, for profit, non-profit, volunteer, private, government any service certified by the state for rendering emergency medical care.

   EMS BOARD. The Emergency Medical Services Board created under this subchapter.

   PATIENT. An individual who is sick, injured, wounded, or otherwise incapacitated or helpless.

   PERSON. An individual, firm, partnership, association, corporation, company, group, or individuals acting together for a common purpose or organization of any kind, including any governmental agency other than the United States.

(Ord. 2021-07, passed 10-4-2021)

§ 33.56 EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT.

   There is established and created within county government, a department which shall be identified as the “Cass County Emergency Services Department”, which is hereby created for the purposes of providing emergency medical services to the citizens of the county.

(Ord. 2021-07, passed 10-4-2021)

§ 33.57 BOARD CREATED; DUTIES AND ORGANIZATION.

   (A)   Creation and composition of EMS Board. There is hereby created an Emergency Medical Services Board. The Board shall be composed of seven members who shall be appointed by the Commissioners of the county for the term of one year. An individual’s membership shall terminate if said individual no longer represents the “category”he or she was chosen to represent. Any appointment to fill a vacancy occurring on the Board shall be for the unexpired term.

   (B)   Duties and responsibilities of the EMS Board.

      (1)   The County Emergency Medical Services Board is an advisory committee to the County Commissioners. Its mission is to review and establish good sound medical direction for all emergency medical services in the county.

      (2)   The Emergency Medical Services Board is not intended to direct medical treatment (i.e., drug dosages, or treatments, this is the responsibility of a department’s Medical Director), but to ensure that the policies of a particular department do not interfere with the continuum of care provided by other departments in the patient care chain that begins with first responders and ends with patient care being turned over to Emergency Department personnel.

      (3)   The Emergency Medical Services Board shall also study current and future needs and directions for emergency medical services in the county as concerns arise.

   (C)   Organization of Emergency Medical Services Board. A representative from the County Commissioners shall serve as temporary Chairperson of the Emergency Medical Services Board and shall convene the first meeting of the Emergency Medical Services Board. At its first meeting, the Emergency Medical Services Board may select from its membership such officers as it deems necessary. The Emergency Medical Services Board may meet as often as necessary, but said meetings shall be held at least quarterly each year.

(Ord. 2021-07, passed 10-4-2021)

§ 33.58 STANDARDS FOR SERVICE.

   (A)   (1)   No EMS provider shall operate on the streets or alleys of Cass County/City of Logansport unless they are in compliance with all aspects of this subchapter.

      (2)   All EMS services functioning within the county shall be in compliance and certified by the State Emergency Medical Services Commission.

      (3)   Any EMS service operating within the county must follow established protocols for basic life support and advanced life support care set forth by the county and the Emergency Medical Services Director.

      (4)   All EMS services operating within the county, in compliance with this subchapter, must be a paramedic advance life support service or contracted in writing with a paramedic advanced life support service based in the county and after receiving approval of the EMS Board and the County Commissioners.

   (B)   (1)   No one shall obstruct, impede, or interfere with any call that Cass County 911 services are responding to or are actively engaged with pursuant to I.C. 35-44-3-8.5.

      (2)   In the event of a disaster, the County Emergency Medical Service Director, or his, her or their designee, shall be the highest medical authority in charge at the scene of said disaster.

      (3)   No health care facility shall be permitted to intentionally use any emergency medical service known to be in non-compliance with this subchapter. Not applicable to federal facilities or facilities outside of the county.

      (4)   Any emergency medical service found in non-compliance with this subchapter and the standards set therein shall be liable to a fine of $1,000 per day, for each day of non-compliance.

(Ord. 2021-07, passed 10-4-2021)