Kansas Administrative Regulations › Agency 109 - BOARD OF EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES › Article 2 - AMBULANCE SERVICES; PERMITS AND REGULATIONS › Section 109-2-5 - Ambulance service operational standards

Current through Register Vol. 43, No. 28, July 11, 2024
(a) Each ground ambulance shall have a
			 two-way, interoperable communications system to allow contact with the
			 ambulance service's primary communication center and with the medical facility,
			 as defined by
			 K.S.A.
			 65-411 and amendments thereto, to which the
			 ambulance service most commonly transports patients.
(b) Smoking shall be prohibited in the
			 patient and driver compartments of each ambulance at all times.
(c) Each operator shall ensure that the
			 interior and exterior of the ambulance are maintained in a clean manner and
			 that all medications, medical supplies, and equipment within the ambulance are
			 maintained in good working order and according to applicable expiration
			 dates.
(d) Each operator shall
			 ensure that freshly laundered linen or disposable linen is on cots and pillows
			 and ensure that the linen is changed after each patient is
			 transported.
(e) When an ambulance
			 has been utilized to transport a patient known or suspected to have an
			 infectious disease, the operator shall ensure that the interior of the
			 ambulance, any equipment used, and all contact surfaces are disinfected
			 according to the ambulance service's infectious disease control policies and
			 procedures. The operator shall place the ambulance out of service until a
			 thorough disinfection according to the ambulance service's infection control
			 policies and procedures has been completed.
(f) Each operator shall ensure that all items
			 and equipment in the patient compartment are placed in cabinets or properly
			 secured.
(g) Each operator shall
			 park all ground ambulances in a completely enclosed building with a solid
			 concrete floor. Each operator shall maintain the interior heat of the enclosed
			 building at no less than 50 degrees Fahrenheit. Each operator shall ensure that
			 the interior of the building is kept clean and has adequate lighting. Each
			 operator shall store all supplies and equipment in a clean and safe
			 manner.
(h) Each licensed ambulance
			 shall meet all regulatory requirements for the ambulance license type, except
			 when the ambulance is out of service.
(i) If an operator is unable to provide
			 service for more than 24 hours, the operator or agent shall notify the
			 executive director and submit an alternative plan, in writing and within 72
			 hours, for providing ambulance service for the operator's primary territory of
			 coverage. The alternative plan shall be subject to approval by the executive
			 director and shall remain in effect no more than 30 days from the date of
			 approval. Approval by the executive director shall be based on whether the
			 alternate plan will provide sufficient coverage to transport and provide
			 emergency care for persons within the operator's primary territory. A written
			 request for one or more extensions of the alternative plan for no more than 30
			 days each may be approved by the executive director if the operator has made a
			 good faith effort but, due to circumstances beyond the operator's control, has
			 been unable to completely remedy the problem.
(j) Each operator subject to public call
			 shall have a telephone with an advertised emergency number that is answered by
			 an attendant or other person designated by the operator 24 hours a day.
			 Answering machines shall not be permitted.
(k) Each operator shall produce the ambulance
			 service permit and service records upon request of the board.
(l) Each operator shall maintain service
			 records for three years.
(m) Each
			 operator shall ensure that documentation is completed for each request for
			 service and for each patient receiving patient assessment, care, or
			 transportation. Each operator shall furnish a completed copy or copies of each
			 patient care report form upon request of the board.
(n) Each operator shall maintain a daily
			 record of each request for ambulance response. This record shall include the
			 date, time of call, scene location, vehicle number, trip number, caller, nature
			 of call, and disposition of each patient.
(o) Each operator shall maintain a copy of
			 the patient care documentation for at least three years.
(p) Each operator shall ensure that a copy of
			 the patient care documentation for initial transport of emergency patients is
			 made available to the receiving medical facility, within 24 hours of the
			 patient's arrival.
(q) Each
			 operator shall maintain a current duty roster that demonstrates compliance with
			 K.S.A.
			 65-6135, and amendments thereto. The duty
			 roster shall reflect appropriate staffing for the service and ambulance type as
			 specified in K.A.R. 109-2-6 and 109-2-7 .
(r) Each operator shall provide a quality
			 improvement or assurance program that establishes medical review procedures for
			 monitoring patient care activities. This program shall include policies and
			 procedures for reviewing patient care documentation. Each operator shall review
			 patient care activities at least once each quarter of each calendar year to
			 determine whether the ambulance service's attendants are providing patient care
			 commensurate with the attendant's scope of practice and local protocols.
(1) Review of patient care activities shall
			 include quarterly participation by the ambulance service's medical director in
			 a manner that ensures that the medical director is meeting the requirements of
			 K.S.A.
			 65-6126, and amendments thereto.
(2) Each operator shall, upon request,
			 provide documentation to the executive director demonstrating that the operator
			 is performing patient care reviews and that the medical director is reviewing,
			 monitoring, and verifying the activities of the attendants pursuant to
			 K.S.A.
			 65-6126, and amendments thereto, as indicated
			 by the medical director's electronic or handwritten signature.
(3) Each operator shall ensure that
			 documentation of all medical reviews of patient care activities is maintained
			 for at least three years.
(4)
			 Within 60 days after completion of the internal review processes of an
			 incident, each operator shall report to the board on forms approved by the
			 board any incident indicating that an attendant or other health care provider
			 functioning for the operator met either of the following conditions:
(A) Acted below the applicable standard of
			 care and, because of this action, had a reasonable probability of causing
			 injury to a patient; or
(B) acted
			 in a manner that could be grounds for disciplinary action by the board or other
			 applicable licensing agency.