This article establishes city rules and regulations concerning
operation of ambulance services within the city.
(Ordinance adopted 5/16/06, sec.
4.301)
For the purpose of this article, the following definitions shall
apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different
meaning:
Special services designed to provide definitive pre-hospital
emergency medical care including, but not limited to, cardiopulmonary
resuscitation, cardiac monitoring, cardiac defibrillation, advanced
airway management, intravenous therapy, administration of specified
drugs, and other medicinal preparations, and other specified techniques
and procedures administered by authorized personnel under the direct
supervision of a base hospital or utilizing approved pre-hospital
treatment protocols or standing orders as part of the local EMS system
at the scene of an emergency, during transport to an acute care hospital
or other approved facility, during inter-facility transfer, and while
in the emergency department of an acute care hospital until responsibility
is assumed by the emergency department or other medical staff of that
hospital.
Transportation by ground ambulance vehicle, medically necessary
supplies and services and either an ALS assessment by ALS personnel
or the provision of at least one ALS intervention.
Either transportation by ground ambulance vehicle, medically
necessary supplies and services, and the administration of at least
three medications by intravenous push/bolus or by continuous infusion
excluding crystalloid, hypotonic, isotonic, and hypertonic solutions
(dextrose, normal saline, Ringer’s lactate); or transportation,
medically necessary supplies and services, and the provision of at
least one of the following ALS procedures:
Any motor vehicle constructed, reconstructed, arranged, equipped
or used for the purpose of transporting ill, sick, or injured persons.
A person or entity that operates, or causes the operation
of, an ambulance service.
The activity, business, or service for hire, profit, or otherwise
of transporting one or more persons by ambulance upon any of the streets,
roads, highways, alleys, or any public way or place, whether ALS,
BLS, or MICU.
Any person or entity which makes application for a permit
prescribed by this article.
Emergency first aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation medical
care procedures which, as a minimum, include recognizing respiratory
and cardiac arrest and starting proper application of cardiopulmonary
resuscitation to maintain life without invasive techniques, unless
authorized by state law or regulation, until the victim may be transported
or until ALS medical care is available.
Any circumstance that calls for immediate action and in which
the element of time in transporting the sick, wounded, or injured
for medical treatment is essential to the health or life of the person.
Such circumstances include, but are not limited to, accidents generally,
traffic accidents, sudden illnesses and acts of violence resulting
in personal injury.
Any sudden or serious illness or injury requiring immediate
medical attention, where delay in providing medical services may aggravate
the medical condition or cause the loss of life.
A person certified to render BLS medical care as required
by the state.
A person certified to render ALS medical care as required
by the state.
The interrelated but separate public and private entities
including, but not limited to, ambulance providers, fire departments,
and hospitals, which, optimally, work together in the timely and appropriate
provision of emergency medical services to the citizens and visitors
of the city.
Any public or private organization, firm, partnership, or
association.
Any medical care rendered by an appropriately certified and/or
licensed person.
That physician designated to serve as the medical director
of the EMS agency pursuant to Texas Health and Safety Code, chapter
773.
The scheduled transport of a patient in which the non-immediate
transport would not aggravate the medical condition of the patient
or cause the loss of life.
Any person in the process of receiving medical care.
The written authorization issued by the city for a designated
ambulance provider to operate an ambulance service within the city.
A person or entity possessing a valid city-issued permit
to operate an ambulance service within the city.
(Ordinance adopted 5/16/06, sec.
4.302)
The regulation of ambulances and ambulance service as herein
established has been made in the exercise of the sound discretion
of the city council and the city council finds that such regulations
are necessary for the purpose of promoting the health, safety and
general welfare of the community; that such regulations have been
designed to lessen congestion by emergency vehicles on the public
streets and to secure safety to pedestrians and vehicles using the
public streets and thoroughfares; that such regulations are necessary
to protect health, life and property; that such regulations apply
to all operators of ambulances as a whole, operating for hire under
emergency conditions or otherwise on the streets and public thoroughfares,
in such a manner as to minimize the hazards and dangers inherent in
the operations of ambulances under emergency conditions; and that
public necessity requires that such regulations be adopted to preserve
and enforce the health, safety and welfare and the good order and
security of the city and its inhabitants. These regulations are adopted
by the city council pursuant to Tex. Health and Safety Code section
773.051, which provides that municipalities may establish standards
for ambulances.
(Ordinance adopted 5/16/06, sec.
4.303)
Any person who violates any provisions of this article shall
be guilty of a misdemeanor, and each day the violation continues shall
be a separate offense. Each offense shall be punishable by a fine
not to exceed $2,000.00.
(Ordinance adopted 5/16/06, sec.
4.341)
