Unless the provisions of this Chapter provide otherwise, all of the provisions of Chapter 1 of this Part are applicable to the licenses referred to in this Chapter.
(Added by Ord. No. 3490, effective 2-25-16)
The purposes of this Chapter are to provide for the regulation of all emergency medical transportation services and the emergency medical services connected therewith, in order to protect the health, safety and welfare of the residents of the County, and to ensure that competent and adequate care is provided to those residents in need of such services. Further, it is the purpose of this Chapter to regulate the provision of such services where there is a sudden need of immediate medical attention or, in non-emergency situations, a need for basic or limited advanced life support services as defined by the Health and Safety Code. This Chapter shall be liberally construed for the accomplishment of these purposes.
(Added by Ord. No. 3390, effective 8-20-09; amended by Ord. No. 3490, effective 2-25-16. Formerly 6-07-1000)
This Chapter shall supplement and be in addition to other regulating statues and ordinances heretofore or hereafter enacted by the State, the County, or any other legal entity or agency having jurisdiction.
(Added by Ord. No. 3390, effective 8-20-09)
Except where the context otherwise requires, the following definitions shall govern the construction of this Chapter:
(b) "Ambulance"
means any vehicle that is specifically constructed, modified, equipped, and designed for the provision of emergency medical transportation services to sick, injured, or otherwise incapacitated persons, including air ambulances.
(c) "Ambulance company"
means any person, entity, corporation, partnership, association, trust, or estate who owns, leases or operates one or more ambulances for the purpose of providing ambulance services within the County.
(d) "Ambulance services"
means any ambulance services as defined by this section provided through an ambulance response to an emergency call.
(e) "Air Ambulance"
means any authorized and approved fixed wing or helicopter aircraft that is equipped and operated for transportation of sick, injured, or otherwise incapacitated persons and emergency medical supplies.
(f) "Attendant"
means any person accompanying an ambulance to provide prehospital medical care for a sick, injured or otherwise incapacitated person.
(k) "Driver"
means a person who is licensed by the California Department of Motor Vehicles to operate an ambulance.
(l) "EMS"
means Emergency Medical Services, which include all services required to identify, respond to, stabilize and treat all medical and psychiatric emergencies.
(m) "EMS Agency Policies and Procedures Manual"
means the County manual containing the policies and procedures of the County Emergency Medical Services System and approved by the Local EMS Agency in accordance with Health and Safety Code section 1798 et seq.
(n) "Emergency call"
means a request for the dispatch of an ambulance to transport or provide other assistance to persons in sudden need of immediate medical attention, including the transport of all persons identified in Welfare and Institutions Code section 5150.
(o) "Emergency service"
means any service performed in response to an emergency call.
(r) "Exclusive Operating Area"
means an EMS area or subarea defined by the emergency medical services plan for which a local EMS agency, upon the recommendation of the County, restricts operations to one or more emergency ambulance services or providers of limited advanced life support or advanced life support in accordance with Health and Safety Code section 1797.85.
(s) "Health Director"
means the Director of the Department of Health Services of the County or his or her authorized representative or designee.
(t) "Health Officer"
means the Health Officer of the County.
(u) "Local EMS Agency"
means the County Department of Health Services as designated by the County under Health and Safety Code section 1797.200, unless otherwise designated.
(v) "Mobile Intensive Care Nurse" or "MICN"
means a registered nurse meeting the requirements set out in the definition of Health and Safety Code section 1797.56, and currently certified as such by the local EMS Agency.
(y) "Person"
means any individual, corporation, partnership, association, trust, estate, municipal corporation, city, or special district.
(z) "Service area"
means the geographic area designated by the Board in which ambulance services are to be provided.
(Added by Ord. No. 3390, effective 8-20-09; amended by Ord. No. 3490, effective 2-25-16)
Except as otherwise specifically provided in this Chapter, the Health Director or license collector, as appropriate, shall be responsible for the administration and enforcement of this Chapter.
(Added by Ord. No. 3390, effective 8-20-09; amended by Ord. No. 3490, effective 2-25-16)