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Standards for drivers and attendants as developed by the state medical care commission as requirements for certification of medical responders and emergency medical technicians pursuant to the General Statutes and rules and regulations promulgated by the board of medical examiners for advanced life support technicians shall be applied and the same are incorporated in this chapter by reference.
(Ord. of 4-6-1998, § VI; Amend. of 10-2-2023)
(a) Each ambulance vehicle shall be equipped with an operational two-way radio capable of establishing good quality voice communications from within the geographic confines of the county to each hospital emergency department in the county in which the ambulance is based. Each ambulance vehicle shall be equipped with two-way radio communication capabilities for communications with all hospital emergency departments to which transportation of patients is made on a regular or routine basis anywhere within the state. Each ambulance vehicle shall be equipped with an operational two-way radio capable of establishing good quality voice communications from within the geographic confines of the county in which the ambulance dispatching agency is located.
(b) Each ambulance provider shall maintain current authorizations or Federal Communication Commission licenses for all frequencies and radio transmitters operated by that provider. Copies of all authorizations and licenses shall be on display and available for inspection per Federal Communication Commission's rules and regulations.
(c) Each base of operations must have at least one open telephone line. Telephone numbers must be registered with each law enforcement agency and communications center in the county.
(d) Each ambulance shall be dispatched from the county communications center or an acceptable and approved alternative.
(Ord. of 4-6-1998, § VIII; Amend. of 10-2-2023)
(a) No ambulance franchise shall be issued under this chapter, nor shall such franchise be valid after issuance, nor shall any ambulance be operated in the county unless the franchisee has at all times in force and effect either insurance coverage, issued by an insurance company licensed to do business in the state, or a bond with personal corporate surety for each and every ambulance owned and/or operated by or for the ambulance service providing for the payment of damages in the following sums:
(1) In the minimum sum of $500,000.00 for injury to or death of one individual and a minimum of $1,000,000.00 per accident in accidents resulting from any cause for which the owner of such vehicle would be liable on account of liability imposed on him by law, regardless of whether the ambulance was being driven by the owner or his agency; and
(2) In the minimum sum of $100,000.00 for the loss of or damage to the property of another, including personal property, under like circumstances, in sums as may be required by the state or as approved by the county.
(b) The franchisee shall hold harmless and indemnify the county from and against any and all liabilities, costs, damages, expenses, and attorney's fees resulting from or attributable to any and all acts and omissions of the franchisee. All franchisees shall maintain an errors and omissions policy in an amount not less than $1,000,000.00. To the extent that any such liabilities, costs, damages, expenses, and attorney's fees are compensated for by insurance, the franchisee shall not be required to reimburse the county or the insurer for the same.
(Ord. of 4-6-1998, § IX; Amend. of 10-2-2023)
Each franchisee under this chapter shall maintain the following records:
(1) Record of dispatch. The record of dispatch shall show time call was received, time ambulance dispatched, time arrived on scene, time arrived at destination, time in service, and time returned to base.
(2) Trip record. The trip record shall state all information required in subsection (1) of this section in addition to information on a form approved by the county. The trip record shall be so designed as to provide the patient with a copy thereof containing all required information. A copy of the trip record may serve as a receipt for any charges paid.
(3) Driver and attendant checklist and inspection report. The driver and attendant checklist and inspection report shall list contents and description of operations for each vehicle, signed by the individual verifying vehicle operations and equipment.
(4) Other data. Other data shall be submitted as requested by the committee or the county director of emergency services.
(Ord. of 4-6-1998, § X; Amend. of 6-2-2008(2); Amend. of 10-2-2023)
(a) Each franchisee under this chapter shall submit a schedule of rates to the county for approval and shall not charge more nor less than the approved rates without specific approval by the county.
(b) No ambulance service shall attempt to collect rates on emergency calls until the patient has reached the point of destination, has received medical attention and is in a condition deemed by the physician fit to consult with the ambulance service, but such services may attempt to collect rates with family or guardian of the patient once the patient is in the process of receiving medical attention.
(c) On nonemergency calls or calls where a person requires transportation to a nonemergency facility, attempts to collect payment may be made before the ambulance begins its trip.
(Ord. of 4-6-1998, § XI; Amend. of 8-3-2020; Amend. of 10-2-2023)
(a) The county department of emergency services director shall be responsible for:
(1) Overseeing of the regulations contained within this chapter.
(2) Receiving all franchise proposals from potential providers.
(3) Reviewing each proposal for conformance to this chapter.
(4) Recommending to the board of commissioners the approval or disapproval of the franchise to the applicant submitting the proposal.
(5) Ensuring by cooperative agreement with other ambulance services the continued service in a district where an ambulance service franchise has been suspended, and maintaining all records required by this chapter and other applicable county regulations.
(b) It shall be the responsibility of the ambulance provider to ensure that the ambulance operation complies with the provisions of this chapter and all rules adopted for this chapter. Upon the violation of any part of this chapter or any rule adopted under authority of this chapter, the county shall have the power to revoke or suspend the franchise of the violator. The operation of an ambulance without a valid franchise or after a franchise has been suspended or revoked or without an emergency medical technician and/or medical responder aboard as required by G.S. 131E-158, shall constitute a misdemeanor punishable by a fine or imprisonment or both in the discretion of the court.
(Ord. of 4-6-1998, § XII; Amend. of 6-2-2008(2); Amend. of 8-3-2020; Amend. of 10-2-2023)