(A) Composition. The Wake EMS System shall consist of the Department, contract EMS agencies, first responders, and the Wake County 911 emergency telecommunications system, to the extent it is utilized for the provision of emergency medical care, and the Wake County EMS Peer Review Committee.
(B) Duties of the Department. The Department will enforce the regulations set forth in this chapter and will perform related function, such as:
(1) Establish performance standards for the EMS system;
(2) Negotiate and prepare agreements for approval by the Board for such contract EMS agencies as may be necessary for effective delivery of emergency medical services with the EMS system;
(3) Inspect the premises, vehicles, equipment and staff qualifications of contract EMS agencies and franchisees to ensure compliance with this chapter and applicable regulations;
(4) Maintain records related to credentials of all personnel within the EMS system; and
(5) Screen and evaluate all franchise applications from ambulance service providers and monitor franchisees, specifically:
(a) Make recommendations to applicants when information is incomplete or otherwise fails to meet chapter requirements;
(b) Present the Department’s evaluation of franchise applications to the Board and recommend grant or denial of franchises;
(c) Recommend that the County Manager suspend a franchise or impose other sanctions under this chapter when it determines a franchisee to be in violation of this chapter; and
(d) Investigate complaints from the public and agencies or health facilities related to franchised ambulance services.
(C) Duties of the Director. The Director, or his/her designee, shall:
(1) Direct and oversee operational aspects of the EMS system;
(2) Report to the Board on the state of the EMS system, non-emergency ambulance services, and convalescent ambulance services in Wake County;
(3) Present ambulance franchise applications to the Board;
(4) Promulgate policies and procedures related to the operation of the system and declarations of emergency applicable to system, non-emergency ambulance providers, convalescent ambulance providers, and specialty care transport providers;
(5) Provide for the necessary continuing professional education for credentialed EMS personnel in the system;
(6) Provide, coordinate, approve and oversee the provision of emergency medical services for special events as designed herein;
(7) Promulgate operational and clinical performance measures by which the system is evaluated and publicly reported; and
(8) Establish fees associated with this chapter during the county’s regular budget process.
(Ord. passed 8-3-2015)