Rules and Regulations Governing Licensure of Ambulances and Ambulance Service Providers
DOH AO 2016-0029 Rules and Regulations Governing Licensure of Ambulances and Ambulance Service Providers
The license of hospital-based ambulance service shall be part of the hospital license. All other ambulance services shall require a separate license.
DEFINITION OF TERMS
For purposes of this Order, the following terms, abbreviations and definitions apply:
1. Ambulance — a vehicle designed and equipped for transporting sick or injured patients to, from, and between places of treatment by land, water or air, affording safety and comfort to the patients and avoiding aggravation of illness or injury. This excludes rapid response vehicles such as, but not limited to, motorcycles, cars and other vehicles designed to transport patients but are not equipped to respond to medical emergencies.
2. Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) — a group of interventions used to treat and stabilize adult victims of life-threatening cardiorespiratory emergencies and to resuscitate victims of cardiac arrest. These interventions include CPR, basic and advanced airway management, tracheal intubation, medications, electrical therapy and intravenous (IV) access.
3. Automated External Defibrillator (AED) — an external computerized defibrillator designed for use in unresponsive victims with no breathing and no signs of circulation.
4. Basic Life Support (BLS) — a group of actions and interventions used to resuscitate and stabilize victims of cardiac or respiratory arrest. These BLS actions and interventions include recognition of a cardiac or a respiratory emergency or stroke, activation of the emergency response system, CPR and relief of foreign-body airway obstruction.
5. Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) — any maneuvers or techniques designed to restore circulation, or a technique combining artificial ventilation and chest compressions designed to perfuse vital organs or restore circulation to a victim of cardiopulmonary arrest.
6. Department of Health — License to Operate (DOH-LTO) — a formal authority issued by DOH to an individual, agency, partnership or corporation to operate an ambulance. It is a prerequisite for accreditation of a health facility or service provider by any accrediting body recognized by DOH.
7. Emergency Medical Services (EMS) — medical service designed to provide timely pre-hospital or out of hospital acute medical care and/or transport to definitive care, to patients with sudden and life-threatening injuries or emergencies.
8. First Aid — initial emergency care given to a person who is injured or suddenly becomes ill.
9. Health Facilities and Services Regulatory Bureau (HFSRB)—the Bureau of DOH charged with the implementation of these rules and regulations.
10. Medical directive - a system of physician-directed quality assurance that provides professional and public accountability for medical care in pre-hospital setting.