The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this article, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning:
Emergency medical services.
Has the meaning as defined in V.T.C.A., Health and Safety Code, section 773.003, as may be amended.
Emergency medical services provider.
Has the meaning as defined in V.T.C.A., Health and Safety Code, section 773.003, as may be amended.
Emergency medical services run.
The trip made by the emergency medical services vehicle to the place where the emergency medical services are rendered, or from the place where the emergency medical services are rendered to a hospital or other appropriate destination for the patient.
Emergency medical services vehicle.
Has the meaning as defined in V.T.C.A., Health and Safety Code, section 773.003, as may be amended.
Fire department.
The fire prevention and protection department for the city.
Licensed emergency medical services provider.
Emergency medical services provider licensed by the state department of state health services, or its successor agency, under V.T.C.A., Health and Safety Code chapter 773 to perform either emergency medical services or non-emergency transfer services.
Non-emergency transfer service provider.
A provider performing non-emergency transfer services.
Non-emergency transfer services.
Any circumstance in which a patient is transported by a licensed emergency medical services provider using an emergency medical services vehicle under circumstances which are or have been represented to be of a non-emergency nature.
(2006 Code, sec. 35-1; Ordinance 11-12-903, sec. 2, adopted 12/6/11; Ordinance 12-04-912, sec. 2, adopted 4/17/12; Ordinance 14-04-974, sec. 2, adopted 4/1/14)
(a) 
Provider of services.
The fire department of the city shall be the sole provider of emergency medical services within the city, except for other emergency medical service providers requested by the fire department to perform emergency medical services during times of multiple emergency medical services needs. The fire department shall not be obligated to provide non-emergency transfer services.
(b) 
Equipment held by the city.
The equipment held by the city to perform emergency medical services shall be utilized for emergency medical services for persons requesting or utilizing such service, and such emergency medical services shall be under the immediate supervision of the chief of the fire department, and such equipment shall be maintained at a location under the direction of the chief of the fire department, subject to approval of the city manager.
(2006 Code, sec. 35-2; Ordinance 11-12-903, sec. 2, adopted 12/6/11; Ordinance 12-04-912, sec. 2, adopted 4/17/12; Ordinance 14-04-974, sec. 2, adopted 4/1/14)
Any person using the fire department for emergency medical services shall pay for such services, including, without limitation, a base fee, a supplies fee, plus a mileage charge for certain types of transportation, as determined from time to time by the city council in accordance with the city fee ordinance (appendix A, section A6.001).
(2006 Code, sec. 35-3; Ordinance 11-12-903, sec. 2, adopted 12/6/11; Ordinance 12-04-912, sec. 2, adopted 4/17/12; Ordinance 14-04-974, sec. 2, adopted 4/1/14)
The person receiving emergency medical services and any person contracting for emergency medical services shall be responsible for payment of the fees. In the case of services received by a minor, the parent or guardian of the minor shall be responsible for payment of the fees. The fire department shall invoice the person receiving emergency medical services and/or the person responsible for the fees and payment shall be made no later than thirty (30) days thereafter.
(2006 Code, sec. 35-4; Ordinance 11-12-903, sec. 2, adopted 12/6/11; Ordinance 12-04-912, sec. 2, adopted 4/17/12; Ordinance 14-04-974, sec. 2, adopted 4/1/14)
Emergency medical services shall be, and by the terms of this article are, available to all persons who live, work or visit within the corporate limits of the city provided such emergency medical services arise within the corporate limits of the city, to persons residing within the corporate limits of other towns or municipalities within the county when provided for by contract, to other persons residing within the county when provided for by contract, and to persons not residing within the county when provided for by contract.
(2006 Code, sec. 35-5; Ordinance 11-12-903, sec. 2, adopted 12/6/11; Ordinance 12-04-912, sec. 2, adopted 4/17/12; Ordinance 14-04-974, sec. 2, adopted 4/1/14)
(a) 
The fire department shall transport the injured or sick to an authorized medical facility of the person’s choosing, provided the medical facility is equipped to handle that type of medical emergency (i.e., is an appropriate facility). An authorized medical facility is one that is listed in the city fire-rescue EMS protocols as provided by the medical director contracted by the city, which list may be subsequently amended by the medical director.
(b) 
It shall be the discretion of the paramedic to utilize other emergency medical transportation when appropriate for the situation (i.e., helicopter, private ambulance, etc.) or to transport the patient to facilities other than requested when other factors, such as estimated transport time, access to facility, and suitability of facility to treat patient, necessitate that another facility be utilized. Facilities not included in the city fire-rescue EMS protocols, developed by the contracted medical director, may be utilized for medical necessity after first consulting with, and receiving approval from, the online medical control physician. No person shall be denied transport to a medical facility for medical care. The fire department shall not have a duty to transport persons who do not need emergency medical services but instead only desire to use non-emergency transfer services. Any person requesting non-emergency transfer services may arrange for private transportation or use non-emergency transfer services provider.
(2006 Code, sec. 35-6; Ordinance 11-12-903, sec. 2, adopted 12/6/11; Ordinance 12-04-912, sec. 2, adopted 4/17/12; Ordinance 14-04-974, sec. 2, adopted 4/1/14; Ordinance 19-08-1135 adopted 8/6/19)
(a) 
It shall be unlawful for any person, either as owner, agent or otherwise, other than a member of the fire department or an agency of the United States, or duly appointed representative of the city, to furnish, operate, conduct, maintain, advertise or otherwise be engaged in or profess to be engaged in the operation of emergency medical services, upon the streets, alleys, or any public way or place within the city, for the purpose of picking up patients within the city, except in the following circumstances:
(1) 
It shall not be unlawful for a person operating as a non-emergency transfer services provider in the city, upon responding to a direct call for non-emergency transfer services, to operate such emergency medical services vehicle under emergency conditions, using emergency equipment, after notifying the fire alarm dispatcher when a determination is made by the non-emergency transfer service providers’ attendants that an emergency exists requiring the sick or injured person to be transported with all practical speed to a hospital.
(2) 
It shall not be unlawful for any person operating as a non-emergency transfer services provider in the city, who is performing the service of maintaining an emergency medical services vehicle at a particular location for a sporting or community activity event, to operate such emergency medical services vehicle under emergency conditions, using emergency equipment, after notifying the fire alarm dispatcher when a determination is made by the non-emergency transfer service providers’ attendants that an emergency exists requiring the sick or injured person to be transported with all practical speed to a hospital.
(3) 
It shall not be unlawful for any person to operate an emergency medical services vehicle within the city, if the place of emergency at which the sick or injured person was picked up by such emergency medical services provider is outside the corporate limits of the city, and the emergency medical services provider making the emergency medical services run is a licensed emergency medical services provider.
(4) 
It shall not be unlawful for any person to operate an emergency medical services vehicle in the city on an emergency medical services run when fire department emergency medical service vehicles are not available, and the fire alarm dispatcher requests such service from the provider.
(b) 
Any person operating as a non-emergency transfer service provider in the city who makes an emergency medical services run under the provisions of subsection (a)(1) or (a)(2) of this section shall, if requested in writing by the fire department, within ten days of each such emergency medical services run, submit to the chief of the fire department a report which shall describe the circumstances requiring the emergency medical services run.
(c) 
In the event that a patient dies while being transported from one place within the city to another place within or beyond its limits, the emergency medical services provider shall:
(1) 
Immediately notify the fire department of such death, by two-way radio or public telephone; and
(2) 
Within two hours, file a written report with the fire chief upon such forms as they may provide or prescribe, giving all information therein required and any other relevant information which the fire chief may require.
(2006 Code, sec. 35-7; Ordinance 11-12-903, sec. 2, adopted 12/6/11; Ordinance 12-04-912, sec. 2, adopted 4/17/12; Ordinance 14-04-974, sec. 2, adopted 4/1/14)
Nothing in this article regulates the provision of non-emergency transfer service providers in the city, except as expressly referenced herein.
(2006 Code, sec. 35-8; Ordinance 11-12-903, sec. 2, adopted 12/6/11; Ordinance 12-04-912, sec. 2, adopted 4/17/12; Ordinance 14-04-974, sec. 2, adopted 4/1/14)