Mendocino County Municipal Code Div. ONE General

A. The ordinance codified in this Chapter shall be known as the "Emergency and Pre-Hospital Medical Services System Ordinance of Mendocino County."

(Ord. No. 4379, 3-7-2017)

A. The County of Mendocino (hereinafter, "County") has established an Emergency Medical Services (EMS) system containing an organized pattern of readiness and response services pursuant to California Health and Safety Code section 1797.200, et seq.

B. The County has designated a Local EMS Agency (LEMSA) to administer the County EMS system pursuant to Health and Safety Code section 1797.200, et seq.

C. This Chapter shall be administered by the County through its designated LEMSA. The LEMSA shall administer the EMS System through the use of agreements with public and private entities as well as policies, procedures and guidelines as provided for in Health and Safety Code section 1797.204.

(Ord. No. 4379, 3-7-2017)

A. Intent: It is the intent of this Chapter for the LEMSA to provide medical control and management of EMS in the County in conformance with California Health and Safety Code section 1443, Welfare and Institution Code section 17000, Vehicle Code section 2512, and Government Code section 37101.

B. Scope: The LEMSA shall develop and implement policy, procedure, and guidelines setting forth minimum requirements for the authorization and operation of ground and air EMS providers for the purpose of providing the organization and resources required to maintain an EMS system that meets state mandates and the health and safety needs of the residents of and the visitors to the County.

C. The LEMSA shall develop and implement procedures for the training, education, certification, accreditation and discipline of pre-hospital personnel in accordance with Health and Safety Code and California Code of Regulations for the purposes of protecting the health and safety of the residents of and the visitors to the County.

D. The LEMSA shall develop and implement additional policy, procedure and guidelines as appropriate to be consistent with current healthcare practice or when mandated by Health and Safety Code and/or California Code of Regulations for the purposes of protecting the health and safety of the residents of and the visitors to the County.

(Ord. No. 4379, 3-7-2017)

A. "Advanced Life Support" or "ALS"; see "Class of Service."

B. "Ambulance" means any privately or publicly owned vehicle especially designed, constructed, modified, equipped, arranged, maintained and operated for the sole purpose of transporting sick, injured, infirm, convalescent or otherwise incapacitated persons, and expectant mothers.

C. "Ambulance Dispatch Center" means any entity that dispatches ambulances in response to requests for service through any means of communication.

D. "Ambulance Service Provider" means any person or entity who, for monetary, public service, or other consideration, transports, in one (1) or more air or ground ambulances providing any class of service, one (1) or more persons needing medical attention or services from any location in the County.

E. "Ambulance Service Provider Permit" means a permit issued by the LEMSA in accordance with LEMSA policy authorizing the holder to act as an Ambulance Service Provider within the County.

F. "Basic Life Support" or "BLS"; see "Class of Service."

G. "Board" means the Board of Supervisors, County of Mendocino.

H. "Class of service" means the level or levels of complexity of field emergency medical services that may be provided by the Permittee and/or certified person. These are:

1. Emergency Medical Responder (EMR) level care provided by a person who has completed a state-approved EMR course that meets or exceeds the national EMS education standards for EMR and functions within the state and LEMSA-approved scope of practice,

2. Basic Life Support (BLS) as defined in Health and Safety Code Section 1797.60 provided at the EMT scope of practice level as defined in Health and Safety Code Section 1797.80.

3. Advanced Life Support (ALS) as defined in Health and Safety Code Section 1797.56 provided by a paramedic as defined in Health and Safety Code Section 1797.84.

4. "Critical Care Transport" or "CCT" level care during transport which exceeds the paramedic scope of practice, requiring a higher level of health care licensure.

I. "County" means the County of Mendocino, State of California.

J. "Department" means County of Mendocino, Department of Public Health, or the Director of Public Health's designee upon approval by the CEO.

K. "Emergency Medical Services" or "EMS" means medical services performed in response to an Emergency Call.

L. "EMS Aircraft Service" means any aircraft service utilized for the purpose of pre-hospital emergency patient response and transport. EMS Aircraft Service includes air ambulances and all categories of rescue aircraft as defined in Title 22.

M. "EMS Dispatch" means the Ambulance Dispatch Center designated by the LEMSA for the dispatch of EMS responders to Emergency Calls.

N. "EMS Entity" means a public or private organization of any type providing EMS and/or Ambulance services within the County.

O. "EMS System" means a specifically organized arrangement which provides for the personnel, facilities and equipment for the effective and coordinated delivery of medical care services under emergency conditions, as described in Health and Safety Code sections 1797 and 1798.

P. "EOA" means Exclusive Operating Area as defined in Health & Safety Code section 1797.85.

Q. "LEMSA" means the Local EMS Agency established by the County, designated by the Board pursuant to Health and Safety Code section 1797, et seq.

R. "Maddy EMS Fund" references funding available through Health and Safety Code section 1797.98 which compensates health care providers for emergency medical services for individuals who do not have health insurance and cannot afford to pay for emergency care and for discretionary EMS purposes.

S. "Permit" means an "Ambulance Service Provider Permit."

T. "Permittee" means an Ambulance Service Provider which has been granted a permit by the LEMSA to engage in a business or service in which ambulances are operated.

U. "Provider Authorization" means an agreement between an EMS Entity and the LEMSA specifying terms and conditions for the provision of EMS including, but not limited to, class of service to be provided, LEMSA approval for optional scope of practice, participation in LEMSA data and quality improvement activities and/or performance standards.

(Ord. No. 4379, 3-7-2017; Ord. No. 4513, § V, 10-18-2022)