As used in this chapter, the following terms
shall have the meanings indicated:
COMMISSIONER
The member of the Council of the Borough of Maywood assigned
by the Mayor and Council to be the Council's representative to the
Squad.
LINE OFFICERS
The Captain. First Lieutenant and Second Lieutenant of the
Squad.
SQUAD
The First Aid and Emergency Squad of the Borough of Maywood.
The First Aid and Emergency Squad of the Borough
of Maywood, as heretofore established, is hereby continued.
The Squad shall, in emergencies and when called
upon, render ambulance and first aid service in accordance with this
chapter and with all applicable federal and state statutes, rules
and regulations and in accordance with all bylaws, rules and regulations
established hereunder.
An applicant for membership in the Squad shall:
A. Satisfy all qualifications for membership as set out in §
28-4 of this chapter.
B. Present a certificate of a licensed physician certifying
the applicant to be in good physical condition capable of performing
the duties of a Squad member.
[Amended 12-26-1990 by Ord. No. 22-90]
The officers of the Squad shall consist of a
Captain, who shall have been a member of the Squad for at least three
years before becoming eligible to take office as Captain, a First
Lieutenant, a Second Lieutenant, a President, a Vice President, a
Secretary and a Treasurer, all of whom shall be active members of
the Squad at the time of their election and throughout the period
during which they shall hold such office.
[Added 7-12-2007 by Ord. No. 15-07]
A. There is hereby established a paid Emergency Medical
Service (EMS) for the Borough of Maywood, consisting of such number
of paid emergency medical technicians (EMTs) as may be authorized
under the current salary ordinance.
B. The following standard operating procedure is hereby
established for the EMS in accordance with the requirements of N.J.A.C.
8:40-1.1 et seq., the provisions of which are hereby incorporated
herein and are made part of the standard operating procedure:
(1) Nondiscrimination
(a)
The EMS shall give service to all regardless
of their race, sex, creed, skin color, national origin, age, disability
or medical condition of the patient. This includes patients with any
communicable diseases such as AIDS, TB or hepatitis.
(b)
The EMS shall not fail to respond to an emergency
call, refuse to give emergency treatment to or transport any person
because of that person's ability to pay for the service.
(2) Special requirements for emergency response.
(a)
To do emergency response or to bid on a contract
for emergency response, the EMS shall be a licensed ambulance provider.
(b)
There shall be a semiautomatic defibrillator
in the EMS vehicle at all times.
(c)
The EMS shall have a quality control system
in place to continuously monitor the quality of care. This shall include
dispatching of vehicles, safe driving, documentation of care on the
patient care report form, quality of the medical care provided, appropriate
use of advanced life support services and the triage of patients.
The quality control system shall include feedback on the quality of
care which the EMS is providing.
(d)
The EMS shall notify the New Jersey Department
of Health and Senior Services, Office of Emergency Medical Services
(OEMS) at least seven days before emergency response services begin
or before the starting date of a contract with a municipality.
(e)
The EMS shall give written notification to OEMS
at least 60 days before the EMS plans to discontinue emergency response
services or before the closing date of a contract with a municipality.
(f)
The EMS shall have a minimum of two licensed
emergency ambulances that have been completely upgraded to meet emergency
response requirements. One shall be the primary vehicle and one a
backup that is immediately available for use when the primary emergency
response vehicle breaks down or needs regular maintenance.
(3) Surveys and licensure.
(a)
The EMS shall allow authorized OEMS staff to
conduct inspections to make sure the EMS is in compliance with all
of the regulations.
(b)
Inspections may be made at any time and at any
location used by the EMS, at any place of medical care and wherever
a patient is picked up or dropped off. OEMS staff cannot stop an EMS
vehicle while it is traveling on a public road.
(c)
These inspections can include a review of all
required records and forms, conferences with staff and patients and
an inspection of the EMS's business locations, vehicles, equipment,
proof of training and driver's license.
(4) Imminent threat.
(a)
OEMS staff may order a vehicle "out of service"
if it find that the vehicle, equipment or improper staffing poses
an imminent threat to the health, safety or welfare for the public,
patients or staff.
(b)
Imminent threat may include, but is not limited
to, problems with the brakes, tires, exhaust systems, door locks and
handles, oxygen or storage of equipment. It also includes serious
patient care violations such as missing (or broken) oxygen or suction
equipment.
(c)
If a vehicle is ordered out of service, the
EMS shall immediately stop using the vehicle to transport patients.
The vehicle shall remain out of service until it passes a reinspection
by OEMS staff. Only OEMS staff can remove an out of service sticker
from a vehicle.
(5) License renewal. To continue to operate, EMS shall
renew its license every two years. The EMS shall apply as required
and continue to comply with the regulations. The OEMS staff will conduct
unannounced spot checks and periodic inspections of EMS vehicles and
operations.
(6) Penalties. The EMS can have its license suspended
and/or revoked for violations of the regulations.
(7) Unusual occurrences.
(a)
The EMS shall call the OEMS office immediately
to report the incident to the Supervisor of Ambulance Licensing. The
EMS shall follow up with a letter and official OEMS Accident/Incident
Report form within 14 days. The reportable incidents include but are
not limited to:
[1]
Any death or injury requiring hospitalization
or treatment in an emergency department which occurred to a patient
while in the EMS's care or while being transported in one of its vehicles.
[2]
Any death or injury requiring hospitalization
or treatment in an emergency department which occurred to any of the
EMS's staff while on duty.
[3]
Any motor vehicle accident which occurred to
one of the EMS's vehicles while on a public roadway which resulted
in the death, hospitalization or treatment in an emergency department
of any person.
[4]
Any fire within an EMS vehicle or office resulting
in damage to the EMS's records.
[5]
Any removal of an EMS vehicle from service for
a period of more than 30 days.
[6]
Any instance where a crew member acts outside
of his or her approved scope of practice.
[7]
Any and all incidents or series of incidents
which, upon objective evaluation, lead to the good-faith belief that
the conduct is in violation of any applicable law, rule and/or regulation,
including, but not limited to, any instances of child abuse or neglect,
elder abuse, domestic violence and/or the utilization of physical
behavioral restraints.
(b)
The required followup letter and Accident/Incident
Report form shall include any additional information known, such as
condition of and prognosis for injured persons, copies of any official
reports and the estimate of the degree of disruption of service.
(8) Elder or child abuse. The EMS shall take note of any
signs of elder or child abuse to the patient that the EMS observes.
The EMS shall immediately report it to the medical staff at the medical
facility.
(9) Uniform. All personnel who staff EMS vehicles shall
wear the approved uniform, including:
(b)
A photo ID that OEMS staff may utilize in order
to verify the validity of the required credentials.
(c)
The EMS's name shall be on the uniform.
(d)
EMS personnel while on duty shall not wear any
identification which suggests or indicates affiliation with any other
organization or agency.
(e)
EMS personnel shall only wear patches which
indicate the certifications they have obtained.
(10)
Vehicle operation. No person shall be allowed
to staff or operate EMS vehicles while:
(a)
Under the influence of liquor or habit-forming
drugs..
(b)
Driving in a reckless manner.
(c)
Driving at excessive speeds.
(d)
Engaging in any illegal conduct.
(11)
Training/certification: general requirements.
(a)
EMS personnel cannot provide patient care beyond
the level the EMS is licensed to provide.
(b)
EMS personnel cannot provide patient care beyond
the level of such personnel's own certification.
(c)
All drivers shall possess a valid New Jersey
motor vehicle operator's license.
(d)
EMS personnel shall carry original training
cards and driver's license on their person or with them in the EMS
vehicle at all times while on duty.
(e)
EMS personnel shall present original training
certification cards and driver's license to the OEMS as soon as they
are issued. The OEMS will make a copy of cards and licenses for its
records and return the originals to the EMS. The OEMS requires the
EMS to keep this copy in the EMS office for its inspection.
(12)
Specific required training for ambulance staff.
(a)
EMS personnel shall have valid, current certification
as an emergency medical technician-basic (EMT-B) issued or recognized
by the OEMS; and
(b)
EMS personnel must have valid, current certification
for cardiopulmonary resuscitation to the level of the professional
rescuer or health-care provider as issued by the American Heart Association,
the American Red Cross, the National Safety Council or other entity
determined by the OEMS to comply with AHA CPR guidelines.
(13)
Special ambulance staff required. Should the
EMS be requested for a specialty-care transport, the EMS must follow
the regulations regarding specialty-care transports found at N.J.A.C.
8:41, Subchapter 10.
(14)
The EMS staff's collective duties include but
are not limited to:
(a)
Providing prompt effective medical or emergency
medical care to patients.
(b)
Attending the patients at all times and continually
monitoring the patient's condition.
(c)
Extricating the patient from confinement (if
necessary).
(d)
Carrying patients over varying terrain using
a variety of patient transport devices.
(e)
Assisting patients to enter and leave the vehicle.
(f)
Ensuring the privacy and comfort of patients.
(g)
Assuring that all patients are safely and properly
restrained in the stretcher, wheelchair or other patient transport
device.
(h)
Assuring that any stretcher, wheelchair or other
patient transport device is safely and properly restrained in the
vehicle.
(i)
Assuring that all vehicle occupants (other than
staff performing CPR) wear automotive seat belts.
(j)
Operating the vehicle in a safe lawful manner;
starting and stopping the vehicle slowing and smoothly.
(k)
Reporting verbally to and leaving a copy of
the call report with the appropriate personnel at the place of medical
care.
(l)
Notifying the medical facility prior to arrival
if any special professional services will be needed by a seriously
ill or injured patient.
(m)
Complying with the laws and regulations on the
handling of the deceased.
(n)
Accurately entering data into and signing the
call report form.
(o)
Prohibiting smoking within the vehicle at all
times.
(15)
Sanitation.
(a)
The inside of all EMS vehicles and all equipment
used shall be cleaned every day.
(b)
After transporting patients known to have AIDS,
hepatitis, TB or any other communicable disease, an EMS vehicle shall
be temporarily removed from service. Anything touched by the patient
or patient's body fluids shall be disinfected as per OSHA standards.
(c)
The universal precaution of gloves (plus additional
protection depending on the specific situation) will be taken for
all patient contacts.
(16)
Physical behavior restraints.
(a)
EMS personnel cannot put a patient into or transport
a patient with physical behavior restraints unless:
[1]
A physician or court has authorized the placement
of the restraints; or
[2]
The patient is in the custody of a police or
corrections officer and the officer accompanies the patient within
the patient compartment; or
[3]
The medical condition of the patient mandates
transportation to, and for treatment at, a health-care facility; or
[4]
The patient shows such a degree of behavior
that he or she:
[a] Poses serious physical danger to
himself or herself or to others; or
[b] Causes serious disruption to ongoing
medical treatment which is necessary to sustain his or her life or
to prevent disability.
(b)
EMS personnel cannot keep a patient in physical
behavior restraints for more than one hour unless:
[1]
A physician or court has ordered the use of
behavior restraints for more than one hour; or
[2]
The patient is in the custody of a police or
corrections officer, and the officer accompanies the patient within
the patient compartment of the vehicle.
(c)
No physical behavior restraints shall be of
a type that causes the patient undue physical discomfort, harm or
pain. Hard restraints, such as handcuffs, are not to be used unless
the patient is in the custody of a police or corrections officer and
the officer accompanies the patient within the patient compartment.
(d)
EMS personnel shall clearly note the reasons
for placing and/or transporting a patient in behavior restraints on
the call report. A copy of the report shall be given to the appropriate
personnel at the medical facility receiving the patient.
(e)
If behavior restraints are applied after leaving
the sending physician or facility, a copy of the call report shall
be sent to the physician or hospital within 48 hours.
(f)
The above-mentioned physical behavior restraints
do not apply to automotive safety belts, stretcher patient safety
restraints or other safety restraints.
(17)
Patient's rights. EMS personnel shall:
(a)
Not leave a patient alone.
(b)
Not give out any information on the patient's
condition or medical status to anyone except the appropriate authorities.
OEMS staff, showing the proper ID, have the right to see the patient's
medical records.
(c)
Treat all patients properly and in a most professional
manner.
(d)
Respect the patient's privacy (when changing
clothes, etc.)
(18)
Mobile Intensive Care Unit (MICU) dispatch protocols
shall apply to the following:
(a)
Cardiac problems, e.g., chest pains, pressure,
tightness, discomfort accompanied by sweating and fatigue.
(b)
Respiratory distress, e.g., shortness of breath,
including patients turning cyanotic.
(c)
Unconscious patient, patient not breathing,
cardiac arrest.
(e)
Severe trauma, e.g., serious motor vehicle accidents,
entrapment, stabbing, gunshots, serious industrial accidents, pedestrian
struck.
(i)
Electrocution/electrical shock.
(j)
Maternity with imminent delivery.
(m)
Uncontrolled bleeding, including vomiting blood,
and profuse rectal or vaginal bleeding.
(p)
The MICU may also be dispatched to an emergency
at the request of the dispatcher, Police Department or basic life
support squad.
(19)
Vehicle breakdown. If a vehicle breaks down
for any cause, EMS personnel shall call the office immediately and
another vehicle will be dispatched to pick up the patient. While this
is happening, the patient shall not be left alone.
[Added 11-20-2008 by Ord. No. 27-08]
A. There is hereby established a third-party payment
plan for emergency medical services for the response of ambulance
services and the transportation by ambulance to hospitals or other
emergency medical facilities by the Borough’s Emergency Medical
Service (EMS).
B. The fees for such services shall be as set forth in Chapter
169, Fees, of the Code of the Borough of Maywood, as may be amended from time to time.
C. The Borough of Maywood shall establish a billing program
for such third-party payment plan for emergency medical services provided
by the Borough’s Emergency Medical Service (EMS).