(A) The Emergency Medical Services Foundation (EMS Foundation) is a not-for-profit corporation organized and existing under the laws of the state. Appointments to the foundation shall be handled as described in the foundation's articles of incorporation and bylaws.
(B) The Medical Director shall provide to the EMS Foundation Board of Directors recommendations concerning the following elements of the ambulance service system:
(1) Criteria for the issuance, renewal, suspension and revocation of permits and certifications.
(2) Production standards related directly or indirectly to clinical performance and patient care.
(3) Diagnosis-specific and problem-oriented medical protocols to serve as the required standard of pre-hospital emergency care.
(4) Procedures governing the relative provision of 24-hour medical control.
(5) Procedures and protocols for the operation of the EMS control center.
(6) Procedures for the provision of medical control over the delivery of advanced life support procedures by ambulance personnel.
(7) Standards for the medical control communications system.
(8) Elements of a disaster plan designed to provide prompt quality care and rescue of persons in disaster situations.
(9) Standards, rules and regulations governing volunteer providers.
(C) (1) The EMS Foundation shall perform medical audits when requested by the Medical Director or a designated base station physician, by any physician on his own patient, by any doctor involved in the case, the chairman of the ambulance authority, Medical Director, a certified paramedic, the volunteer advisory council or when in the foundation's discretion it is determined that a specific incident merits investigation or an element of the ambulance service system may be improved and study is warranted.
(2) Audits shall be performed on a diagnosis-specific basis to determine if there exists areas for improvement of treatment.
(3) An audit shall be primarily problem-solving and educational in nature although from time to time punitive action as a result of audit findings may be necessary and appropriate.
(D) (1) The Medical Director shall be appointed by the EMS Foundation Board and shall serve at the pleasure of the EMS Foundation Board. The Medical Director may be a member of the EMS Foundation, but he shall resign from the foundation board upon his appointment as Medical Director.
(2) The Medical Director shall be compensated by the EMS Foundation.
(3) The Medical Director may delegate duties to qualified base station physicians or others whose expertise is necessary for complete and thorough medical audits.
(4) The Medical Director may appoint an assistant to the Medical Director who shall be at least a certified paramedic, or have equivalent training and experience.
('74 Code, § 9-21) (G-16-82, passed 7-27-82)