(A) Establishment of Department.
(1) There is hereby created and established a County Ambulance Service consisting of a Director and assistant and other employees of the Department as shall be deemed necessary by the Judge/Executive and Fiscal Court.
(2) The Director and assistant shall be appointed by the Judge/Executive with the approval of the Fiscal Court and shall serve at their pleasure until and unless removed for neglect of duty or improper conduct.
(3) The Fiscal Court shall set the number and compensation of all other employees of the Ambulance Service.
(4) All members of the Ambulance Service shall be citizens of the United States not less than 18 years of age and residents of the Commonwealth of Kentucky. None but discreet and sober persons shall be appointed to any position on the Ambulance Service.
(5) All appointments to the Ambulance Service, and removals therefrom, shall be made by the Judge/Executive and the Fiscal Court in accordance with the provisions of state law and the county personnel policy.
(Ord. 4-92 § 6.1, passed 5-26-1992)
(B) Duties of Ambulance Director.
(1) The Ambulance Director shall be the head of the Ambulance Service and responsible for organization, direction and control of emergency medical services within the county.
(2) The Ambulance Director shall perform the following duties:
(a) Maintain a staff of certified technicians through recruitment, interviewing and hiring, with court approval;
(b) Coordinate the development and application of effective personnel policies which specify the rules, regulations and benefits of employment;
(c) Monitor emergency medical technicians’ performance and client service;
(d) Coordinate emergency medical service policies and procedures;
(e) Review financial information, including collections, income, expense and balance statements;
(f) Review time sheets and authorize payroll;
(g) Review run sheets and resulting payroll expenses monthly;
(h) Monitor EMT use of the 2-way radio system;
(i) Serve as the public relations spokesperson for the emergency medical service;
(j) Approve all purchases of supplies and equipment;
(k) Approve schedule changes and deviations from posted hours;
(l) Oversee the maintenance and licensure of ambulances;
(m) Maintain a good working relationship with the Division of Licensing and Regulation;
(n) Represent the county and EMS in consortiums and emergency care organizations;
(o) Establish rates and fees for service with court approval according to the EMS needs and ability of county residents to pay;
(p) Address the Fiscal Court on issues of interest and operating policies; and
(q) Remain aware of the changes in the delivery-of-care system and plan accordingly.
(Ord. 4-92 § 6.2, passed 5-26-1992)
(C) Woodford County Ambulance Policy.
(1) It is the policy of the Woodford County Fiscal Court to ensure that emergency ambulance service is readily available to persons in Woodford County at all times, and in order to assure the best possible service adopts the following ambulance policies:
(a) Emergency requests for ambulance service take precedence over nonemergency requests for service, for transfers from one medical facility to another and for transfers from a medical facility to a residence. When one ambulance is responding to a call, the next ambulance shall respond to emergency calls only.
(b) Emergency ambulance responses will be made in as expeditious a manner as possible with due regard to safety. Patients will be taken to the nearest appropriate medical facility unless that facility indicates that they cannot accept the patient at that time, in which case the EMTs will take the patient to another suitable facility. The EMT attending the patient will make the choice of the nearest appropriate facility. Requests by the patient or the patient’s family to be taken to a particular facility will be evaluated in the light of the above statement. The medical condition of the patient, time, distance, and weather and road conditions and the appropriateness of the facility shall, however, remain the determining factors as to which facility the patient should be taken;
(c) Nonemergency ambulance responses may be made when sufficient vehicles and personnel are available so as not to hamper the ability to render sufficient emergency service. In the event that sufficient vehicles and personnel are unavailable to render adequate emergency service, then nonemergency service must be delayed. Ambulance Service personnel shall assist nonemergency patients in obtaining alternative service if it is requested. As soon as appropriate vehicles and staff are available, the nonemergency service may be rendered;
(d) Patients requesting nonemergency transportation will be transported to the facility of their choice if it is within 50 miles of Versailles unless their condition, in the opinion of the attending EMT, becomes an emergency, in which case the ambulance shall divert to the nearest appropriate facility. Persons desiring transportation beyond 50 miles should contact a private ambulance service. Transportation beyond 50 miles in a county ambulance must have approval of the Director and the County Judge/Executive;
(e) Patients requiring nonemergency transportation from a location outside Woodford County back to Woodford County will be transported in accordance with the provisions of divisions (1)(c) and (d) above;
(f) Patients requiring specialized services during transfer such as intravenous infusion, advanced life support, or other services which are beyond the authorization of an EMT to perform shall be accompanied by a person or persons authorized to perform the service required. It must be understood that EMTs cannot perform any service with regard to intravenous therapy, drug therapy or advanced life support, as mandated by law;
(Ord. passed 4-14-1987)
(g) Patients who suffer cardiac arrest during transport to a medical facility will be treated as a full code (unless the patient has an EMS DNR), using all available life support systems, to that medical facility; and
(h) Deceased persons pronounced dead by the Coroner will not be transported to a medical facility or funeral home by ambulance.
(2) Long-distance or out-of-state trips will be arranged to provide a service for Woodford County citizens. To avoid affecting the efficiency or preparedness of the Ambulance Service while providing that service, the Ambulance Service shall charge for this service at a rate that will not create a cost increase for the Ambulance Service or unfair competition for private services.
(a) The person requesting the service must be a citizen of Woodford County;
(b) The trip must not be beyond a 400-mile radius of Woodford County (2-day trip maximum);
(c) The trips must be individually authorized by the County Judge/Executive, the Fiscal Court or the Ambulance Service administration. This authorization will be based on the following:
1. The availability and readiness of the equipment, not only for the requested trip but to meet the ongoing need of the county;
2. The availability of the required personnel;
3. An assessment of need; and
4. Knowledge that a private service is not available or is not satisfactory for the particular request.
(d) The total charge for the trip shall be the total of the following:
1. Actual expenses incurred, including but not limited to salary, meals, lodging, fuel and oil; and
2. Mileage of $0.50 per mile traveled.
(e) The rates will be adjusted if they prove to provide an increased operational cost to the Ambulance Service or if they create unfair competition to private services.
(Ord. 4-92 § 6.3, passed 5-26-1992)
(D) Woodford County ambulance boundaries.
(1) Normal operating boundaries for the Woodford County Ambulance Service shall include:
(a) The City of Versailles;
(b) The City of Midway;
(c) All of Woodford County;
(d) All counties surrounding Woodford County specified as:
1. Fayette;
2. Jessamine;
3. Mercer;
4. Anderson;
5. Franklin; and
6. Scott.
(2) Response within the Woodford County Ambulance Service boundaries:
(a) Must respond to all calls within Woodford County;
(b) Will respond to calls in surrounding counties for transport to medical facilities or private residences in Woodford County;
(c) Will respond to calls from medical facilities to any medical facility in the surrounding counties;
(d) Patients will be transported to the nearest appropriate facility, unless otherwise directed by patient, patient's family or patient's physician; and
(e) Calls to and from doctors’ offices must be of a nonambulatory type.
(Ord. 4-92 § 6.4, passed 5-26-1992)