Chapter 5.50
AMBULANCE OPERATOR REGULATIONS
Sections:
5.50.030 Repealed.
5.50.040 Repealed.
5.50.050 Application for ambulance operator rotation placement.
5.50.070 Investigation, inspection and verification.
5.50.080 Placement on rotation list.
5.50.090 Repealed.
5.50.100 Repealed.
5.50.110 Renewal of agreement.
5.50.120 Standards of operation.
5.50.140 Denial, suspension, or removal from rotation list.
5.50.170 Additional enforcement.
5.50.180 Agreement limitations.
5.50.010 Purpose.
It is the intention of the City to fully implement the State-wide program of emergency medical care to promote the health, safety, and welfare of all City residents and visitors by assuring the City Fire Department’s role as first response agency to emergency medical incidents within the City and also to require higher than minimum standards of ambulance operators conducting business within the City and providing services as requested by the City Fire Department for transport of ill, incapacitated, or injured persons. (Ord. 97-1012 § 1)
5.50.020 Definitions.
For purposes of this chapter, the following definitions, as well as those other definitions set forth at RCW 18.73.030 and WAC 246-976-010, as currently exist and as may be hereafter amended, shall apply:
A. “Advanced life support (ALS)” means invasive emergency medical services requiring advanced medical treatment skills as defined by Chapter 18.71 RCW, and as typically provided by King County Medic One.
B. “Agreement” means agreement between the City of SeaTac Fire Department and an ambulance operator setting forth general operational procedures required for placement on the Fire Department rotation list.
C. “Aid vehicle” means a vehicle used to carry aid equipment and individuals trained in emergency medical procedure, which typically consist of Fire Department aid units, King County Medic One units, and Fire Department apparatus.
D. “Ambulance” means a privately-owned ground or air vehicle designed and used to transport patients and to provide personnel, facilities, and equipment to treat patients before and during transportation.
E. “Ambulance operator” means a person or entity owning one (1) or more ambulances and operating them as a private business.
F. “Basic life support” means noninvasive emergency medical services requiring basic medical treatment skills as defined in Chapter 18.73 RCW.
G. “Dispatch” means the designation and direction by the Fire Department Dispatch Center of an emergency response unit to a service location.
H. “Emergency medical services (EMS)” means medical treatment and care which may be rendered at the scene of any medical emergency or while transporting any patient to an appropriate medical facility.
I. “Emergency medical technician (EMT)” means a person who is authorized by the Washington State Department of Health to render emergency medical care pursuant to RCW 18.73.081.
J. “Fire Chief” means the titular head of the City Fire Department acting as such and in his or her role as “aid director” of the Department’s emergency medical services.
K. “Fire Official” means the Fire Chief, or designee, and the Fire Department’s Incident Commander at any emergency medical services incident.
L. “First response agency” means the City Fire Department, its emergency medical technicians, aid vehicles, and apparatus.
M. “Operator response time” means the time from notification by dispatch to an ambulance operator until the time of arrival on the scene of an emergency medical incident. This is the same as the combination of activation and enroute times defined under “system response time” at WAC 246-976-010.
N. “Patient” means a person who is ill, injured, or otherwise incapacitated or helpless, and in need of, or receiving, medical treatment, including trauma care.
O. “Person” means any individual, corporation, company, firm, joint stock company, co-partnership, joint venture, trust, business trust, club, association, society, or any group of individuals acting as a unit, whether mutual, cooperative, fraternal, nonprofit, or otherwise, or any receiver, administrator, executor, assignee, or trustee in bankruptcy.
P. “Prehospital” means emergency medical care or transportation rendered to patients by emergency medical technicians prior to hospital admission.
Q. “Rotation list” means a list of not more than three (3) ambulance operators who are referred calls and provide emergency response and transport services within the City of SeaTac on a continuing rotational basis.
R. “Triage” means the sorting of patients in terms of disposition, destination, and/or priority. Triage of prehospital trauma victims requires identifying injury severity so that the appropriate care level can be readily assessed according to patient care guidelines. (Ord. 03-1012 § 1; Ord. 99-1034 § 1: Ord. 97-1012 § 1)
5.50.030 Business license required.
Repealed by Ord. 99-1034. (Ord. 97-1012 § 1)
5.50.040 Separate business locations.
Repealed by Ord. 99-1034. (Ord. 97-1012 § 1)
5.50.050 Application for ambulance operator rotation placement.
An ambulance operator shall complete an application, enter into an agreement, and provide the following information before consideration of placement on the rotation list:
A. A copy of the ambulance operator’s State license issued pursuant to RCW 18.73.130 and WAC 246-976-260.
B. A roster of all ambulances to be used, or to be potentially used, within the City to include year of manufacture, name of manufacturer, statement of compliance with the ambulance vehicle standards of WAC 246-976-290, statement of compliance with the ambulance vehicle equipment requirements of WAC 246-976-300, statement of compliance with the communications equipment requirements of WAC 246-976-310, and proof of current licensure pursuant to WAC 246-976-260 of each listed ambulance.
C. A roster by name, residence address, date of birth, Social Security number, and current Washington State driver’s license number (or photo identification), together with proof of EMT certification.
D. A certificate or certificates of insurance as required by the State Department of Health (WAC 246-976-260(2)(c)).
E. A schedule of rates to be charged for services during the agreement period, together with a statement that the said rates shall not be increased during the agreement period.
F. The inspection fee required by SMC 5.50.060. (Ord. 99-1034 § 3: Ord. 97-1012 § 1)
5.50.060 Fee.
An inspection fee shall be imposed and due at the time of submission of an application by an ambulance operator for placement on the rotation list. The inspection fee shall be as prescribed by resolution of the City Council establishing fees and charges. (Ord. 99-1034 § 4: Ord. 97-1012 § 1)
5.50.070 Investigation, inspection and verification.
The Fire Chief or designee shall review and investigate all applications submitted by ambulance operators to ensure compliance with all application requirements and to verify the validity of all State or County certifications, verifications, and licenses. A Fire Official shall, upon receipt of an application, make physical inspection of the ambulance operator’s premises, ambulances, equipment, and communication equipment. The Fire Official shall also determine that the schedule of rates submitted is competitive within the industry. As a condition of placement on the rotation list, the ambulance operator shall permit a Fire Official to make regular inspections of the ambulances, equipment, and personnel of licensed ambulance operators, at all reasonable hours, with or without advance notice, upon presentation of appropriate credentials to an authorized representative of the ambulance operator. (Ord. 99-1034 § 5: Ord. 97-1012 § 1)
5.50.080 Placement on rotation list.
Upon satisfactory completion of investigation, inspection, and verification, as set forth at SMC 5.50.070, the Fire Chief or designee shall enter into an agreement with the ambulance operator, subject to SMC 5.50.180. (Ord. 99-1034 § 6: Ord. 97-1012 § 1)
5.50.090 Posting of business license.
Repealed by Ord. 99-1034. (Ord. 97-1012 § 1)
5.50.100 Nontransferability of business license.
Repealed by Ord. 99-1034. (Ord. 97-1012 § 1)
5.50.110 Renewal of agreement.
The terms of the agreement entered into with ambulance operators shall be for a period of one (1) year. An ambulance operator wishing to renew the agreement must submit an application pursuant to SMC 5.50.050 thirty (30) days before the expiration of the current agreement. (Ord. 99-1034 § 7: Ord. 97-1012 § 1)
5.50.120 Standards of operation.
All operations of, and services provided by, a licensed ambulance operator shall, as a minimum, fully comply with the following standards:
A. All applicable provisions of State law, regulations of the State Department of Health, and procedures adopted thereunder, including, but not limited to, Chapters 18.71, 18.73 and 70.168 RCW, and Chapter 246-976 WAC, must be fully met at all times.
B. All applicable provisions of County ordinances, and procedures adopted thereunder, including, but not limited to, Chapter 2.26 of the King County Code, must be fully met at all times.
C. For each ambulance available to respond to dispatches to locations within the City, the ambulance operator shall provide not less than two ambulance attendants currently certified as Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs). The certificate of EMT status shall be in possession of each such ambulance attendant while on duty. Unless specifically requested, no ALS ambulances shall respond to locations within the City.
D. The ambulance operator shall provide for dispatch of ambulances when notified by the Fire Department, through the Fire Department Dispatch Center. The ambulance operator shall advise the Fire Department Dispatch Center from which location the ambulance is responding. Operator response time shall be in accordance with the following standard:
1. Ninety percent (90%) of all responses by an ambulance operator to dispatches of the Fire Department Dispatch Center to locations within the boundaries of the City shall not exceed a maximum of ten (10) minutes under code red and fourteen (14) minutes under code yellow.
E. The ambulance operator shall respond on code red or code yellow as advised by the Fire Department Dispatch Center or the Fire Official on the scene of an emergency medical incident. The ambulance operator shall be fully responsible for proper and safe operation of its ambulances, and the actions of its employees, in responding to such dispatches.
F. The ambulance operator shall be responsible for furnishing all required and necessary on-board equipment and for maintaining the same in good working condition.
G. The ambulance operator shall be responsible for providing and maintaining its communication system, channel selection, authorization for use, and proper operation of the system.
H. Upon arrival at the scene of an emergency medical incident, the ambulance attendant in charge shall report directly to the Fire Official and the ambulance attendants shall then follow instructions of the Fire Official until such time as responsibility for patient care is turned over to the ambulance attendants.
I. The ambulance operator may continue to respond to private calls for transportation not generated through the 911 system or the Fire Department Dispatch Center. However, if the private call reports an incident which is of an emergency medical nature, the ambulance operator shall promptly advise the Fire Department Dispatch Center for dispatch of Fire Department aid units.
J. No ambulance operator shall refuse to transport any patient when such patient is determined by the Fire Official to require transport to a hospital, trauma center, or other medical facility.
K. The ambulance operator shall transport a patient to the nearest hospital capable of providing appropriate medical services, or to a hospital designated by the patient. If, however, a specific hospital or trauma center is designated by the Fire Official at the scene, the ambulance operator shall transport the patient to that facility.
L. Charges for services shall be made by the ambulance operator only if a patient is actually transported, and such charges shall not exceed the rates filed by the ambulance operator with the City.
M. The ambulance vehicles utilized by ambulance operators pursuant to this section must be a color or color combination different than color schemes reserved for aid vehicles. The color schemes reserved for the exclusive use by aid vehicles shall be red or primarily red with white tops or striping. (Ord. 03-1012 § 2: Ord. 99-1034 § 8: Ord. 97-1012 § 1)
5.50.140 Denial, suspension, or removal from rotation list.
An application of an ambulance operator may be denied, or any agreement suspended, or revoked for any of the following reasons:
A. Failure to comply with applicable provisions of State law, regulations of the State Department of Health, or procedures adopted thereunder, or applicable provisions of County ordinances, or failure to comply with the requirements of this chapter.
B. Failure to equip and maintain ambulances and on-board equipment and communications equipment in proper manner.
C. Failure to meet the response time standards set forth at SMC 5.50.120.
D. Failure to correctly advise the Fire Department Dispatch Center of the location from which an ambulance is responding to a dispatch.
E. Failure to respond to a dispatch from the Fire Department Dispatch Center unless the ambulance operator can document the nonavailability of any ambulance located within a reasonable distance from the City.
F. Failure to provide the required number of ambulance attendants with the minimum required certifications.
G. Charging for services not actually performed or charging at rates in excess of the rates filed by the ambulance operator with the City.
H. Unauthorized use of, or monitoring of, the Fire Department’s radio channels for monetary gains, or responding to the scene of an emergency medical incident without having been dispatched by the Fire Department Dispatch Center or the Fire Official.
I. Failure to notify the Fire Department Dispatch Center of private calls for ambulance response to serious medical emergencies within the City.
J. Repeated and verified complaints from firefighters, emergency medical technicians, other emergency personnel, or from the general public, relating to unsafe, discourteous, uncooperative, or unprofessional conduct. (Ord. 03-1012 § 3: Ord. 99-1034 § 9: Ord. 97-1012 § 1)
5.50.150 Standby services.
In event an ambulance operator agrees or contracts to provide an ambulance or ambulances to standby for emergency medical services or transportation during public or private community events, the ambulance operator shall notify the Fire Chief in writing fourteen (14) days prior to the date of the event, or as soon as is reasonably possible, and shall identify the date, time and scope of standby responsibilities. In event of an emergency medical incident during any such community event, the ambulance operator shall immediately employ the 911 system to notify the Fire Department Dispatch Center of the nature of the emergency. (Ord. 03-1012 § 4: Ord. 97-1012 § 1)
5.50.160 Violations.
Violations of this chapter may result in suspension or revocation or termination of the ambulance operator’s inclusion on the Fire Department’s rotation list. (Ord. 99-1034 § 10: Ord. 97-1012 § 1)
5.50.170 Additional enforcement.
The remedies and penalties found in this chapter are not exclusive. The City may seek any other legal or equitable relief, including, but not limited to, enjoining any acts or practices which constitute or will constitute a violation of law, civil rights, or any business regulations. (Ord. 97-1012 § 1)
5.50.180 Agreement limitations.
At no time shall the City have agreements with more than three (3) ambulance operators for placement on the rotation list. (Ord. 99-1034 § 11)