§ 10:403. Ambulance service by private providers.

(a)

No ambulance may transport any patient in need of emergency care when the request for service or assistance is made through the emergency 911 system unless specifically authorized by the department of EMS.

(b)

Private providers shall be allowed to respond and transport all members directly requesting their assistance from a residence or medical facility.

(c)

Private providers must request the fire department, through the communications center, to provide first response when responding to an emergency direct request from a member at a residence.

(d)

As directed and approved by the department of EMS, private providers shall be allowed to provide standby services at the advanced life support level at private community events and provide care and transportation at the ALS level in the event of an emergency occurring on the site of the event. Private providers may do other standbys under the coordination and direction of the department of EMS.

(e)

No owner or operator of an ambulance may respond to any emergency in any ambulance not certified at the advanced life support level and capable of providing advanced life support care.

(f)

By making application for a permit hereunder and by providing ambulance service in the parish, each ambulance owner and operator agrees to provide such emergency and non-emergency ambulance services as may be requested by the department of EMS in the event of system overload, mass casualties or catastrophic event.

(g)

Private providers shall handle all interfacility transfers, except when medically advisable to protect the patient's best interest, due to system overload.

(h)

Private providers shall handle all nursing home calls for ambulance transportation, except when medically advisable to protect the patients best interest, due to system overload, or as determined by a physician.

(i)

Private providers must adhere to the following:

(1)

EMT licensed personnel must be certified as being proficient in treatment protocols approved by the East Baton Rouge Parish Medical Society.

(2)

Advanced level personnel meeting the above mentioned criteria must use treatment protocols approved by the East Baton Rouge Parish Medical Society.

(3)

Advanced level care may be conducted pursuant to protocols approved by the department of EMS and the East Baton Rouge Parish Medical Society.

(4)

All ambulances licensed at the ALS level in the parish must be certified by the department of EMS and will be charged a designated license fee.

(j)

Dispatching ambulances based on information obtained off a scanner, dispatching additional ambulances, or dispatching air ambulances not specifically requested by Med Comm shall be prohibited.

(k)

No ambulance shall respond or provide transportation in emergency circumstances except as set forth above.

(Ord. No. 9322, § 1, 8-28-91; Ord. No. 15285, § 1, 3-28-12; Ord. No. 16880, § 1, 8-8-18)