New Jersey Administrative Code › Title 8 - HEALTH › Chapter 40 - MOBILITY ASSISTANCE VEHICLE AND BASIC LIFE SUPPORT AMBULANCE SERVICES › Subchapter 3 - GENERAL ADMINISTRATIVE REQUIREMENTS › Section 8:40-3.5 - Standard operating procedures manual

Current through Register Vol. 56, No. 14, July 15, 2024
(a) Each provider shall
				develop and maintain a written standard operating procedures (SOP) manual. The SOP
				manual shall reflect the methods of daily operation, and shall be consistent with
				the provisions of this chapter. A copy of the SOP manual shall be available at each
				location where a vehicle is garaged, shall be readily accessible to all crewmembers
				and shall be made available to Department staff upon demand.
(b) In addition to addressing the employees'
				responsibilities under this chapter, such as cooperating with inspections, the rules
				governing vehicles placed in DIOOS status, the possibility of incurring monetary
				penalties in case of licensure violations, having training credentials available and
				performing duties in a professional manner, the SOP manual shall address sanitation
				requirements, maintenance of records (see
				8:40-3.9 ), vehicle cleanliness,
				communicable disease guidelines, placing patients into physical behavioral
				restraints, patient rights, vehicle breakdowns, child and elder abuse reporting
				requirements, portable and mobile radio operation and other areas of concern to the
				provider or the Department. The SOP manual shall also contain a nondiscrimination
				statement, outlining the service's willingness to transport and treat patients
				regardless of a person's race, sex, creed, national origin, sexual preference, age,
				disability, medical condition (including, but not limited to, patients with
				AIDS/HIV, TB, Hepatitis B or other communicable diseases) or ability to pay. If the
				service provides emergency response, the SOP manual shall include, as appendices,
				copies of the relevant municipality's EMS Annex and the HAZ-MAT Annex of the State
				disaster plan. A current copy of these rules (N.J.A.C. 8:40) shall be included in
				the SOP manual, but the rules by themselves, shall not constitute a complete SOP
				manual.
1. Each provider shall develop a policy to
				ensure that all patient information, including patient identifiable data, remains
				confidential and private. This policy shall be part of the SOP manual, and shall be
				provided to each of the provider's employees. Patient information shall only be
				disclosed or released:
i. If the patient, guardian,
				executor or other legally authorized person has requested in writing that the
				information be released to a specific person, entity or company;
ii. In compliance with a subpoena, judicial order
				or applicable law, rule and/or regulation;
iii. To process a claim for insurance, including
				Medicare or Medicaid, if authorized by the patient, guardian, executor or other
				legally authorized person;
iv. To
				Department staff in the performance of their duties and/or while conducting
				inspection, audit and/or investigation; and
v. To effect the transfer of the patient to
				another health care professional receiving the patient.