Sec. 28-16. - Policies and procedures.

(a)

The LEMSA medical director shall, in consultation with medical care providers and in conformance with accepted medical and administrative practices and state law, develop and implement policies and procedures for basic and advanced life support services within the EMS system. These policies and procedures shall include, but not be limited to, patient evaluation and treatment and EMS system operation and evaluation.

(b)

LEMSA policies and procedures shall be developed in the following manner:

(1)

LEMSA policies will routinely be reviewed and revised as needed. Suggestions for new policies or revisions will be considered from any interested agency or individual.

(2)

LEMSA will create draft policy.

(3)

The draft policy shall be made available to county EMCC members and all stakeholders, for a sixty-day external comment period. Extension of the public comment period can occur as needed to ensure adequate participation.

(4)

All draft policies approved for external review shall be published on the LEMSA website.

(5)

After the close of the external review period, the policy author will review and make appropriate revisions to the draft policy.

(6)

The revised draft policy will be re-submitted to LEMSA staff for final review. If necessary, an internal or external workshop will be scheduled to discuss the proposed policy.

(7)

Approved policies shall be distributed to EMCC members and posted on the LEMSA website at least thirty (30) days prior to the effective date.

(c)

Special Memoranda.

(1)

The LEMSA medical director may issue EMS special memoranda to address immediate issues that require temporary or interim guidance

(2)

EMS special memoranda have the same force as policy or treatment guidelines but are limited in duration to one (1) year

(3)

Interim guidance within special memos must be subject to formal policy development or revision to remain in effect as properly promulgated regulation.

(d)

Following final adoption of a policy or procedure, any EMS system provider agency affected by the policy may request a hearing as provided in Section 28-21 of this chapter.

(Ord. No. 6294, § I, 11-12-2019)