New Jersey Administrative Code › Title 8 - HEALTH › Chapter 40 - MOBILITY ASSISTANCE VEHICLE AND BASIC LIFE SUPPORT AMBULANCE SERVICES › Subchapter 6 - SPECIFIC BASIC LIFE SUPPORT AMBULANCE SERVICE REQUIREMENTS › Section 8:40-6.4 - Crewmember duties

Current through Register Vol. 56, No. 14, July 15, 2024
(a) The collective duties of the crewmembers
				staffing a BLS ambulance shall include, but are not limited to:
1. Assuring that all required and necessary
				equipment and supplies are onboard the vehicle and in working order prior to
				departure;
2. Operating the vehicle in a
				safe manner, starting and stopping the vehicle slowly and smoothly and complying
				with all applicable motor vehicle laws, rules and/or regulations;
3. Providing the patient with prompt, effective
				and appropriate medical care;
4. If
				necessary, extricating the patient from confinement;
5. Loading and unloading the patient from the
				vehicle;
6. Assuring that the patient is
				attended to by at least one crewmember at all times;
7. Continually monitoring the patient's condition
				and equipment;
8. For seriously ill or
				injured patients, notifying the receiving health care facility prior to arrival that
				special professional services and/or assistance will be needed;
9. Complying with all applicable laws, rules
				and/or regulations pertaining to universal precautions, body substance isolation
				procedures and the handling of the deceased;
10. Supervising the well being of the patient and
				ensuring the patient's privacy and comfort;
11. Assuring that all vehicle occupants (patients,
				passengers and crewmembers) are properly restrained in accordance with
				8:40-4.4(f). The
				crewmembers need not wear an automotive safety belt when providing essential life
				support such as CPR;
12. Assuring that
				all equipment and patient transport devices are safely and properly stored and/or
				restrained in a crashworthy manner;
13.
				Completing the patient care report;
14.
				Reporting verbally and leaving a complete copy of the patient care report with the
				appropriate personnel when the patient is delivered to the receiving health care
				facility.
i. All patients must be screened
				according to the COVID-19 Triage Protocol for EMS Providers, which is incorporated
				herein by reference, at N.J.A.C. 8:40-6.4 Appendix A.
ii. If the patient meets the criteria for triaging
				to home, as set forth in the COVID-19 Triage Protocol for EMS Providers, then the
				EMT shall consult with their BLS provider's medical director, their pre-designated
				medical command physician, or otherwise arranged hospital medical command. Any
				agency that does not have a medical director, a pre-designated medical command
				physician, or otherwise arranged hospital medical command may not implement this
				protocol.
iii. If the medical authority
				agrees that the patient should be triaged to home, then the patient may remain at
				home and does not have to be transported to an emergency department.
iv. If the medical authority disagrees that the
				patient should be triaged to home, then the EMT shall transport the patient to the
				closest, most appropriate emergency department.
v. The EMT shall document, in the patient's ePCR,
				the EMT's contact with the medical authority and the medical authority's
				determination as to whether the patient should be triaged at home.
vi. When triaged to home, the EMT shall provide
				the patient with the COVID-19 Home Care Guide, which is incorporated herein by
				reference, at N.J.A.C. 8:40-6.4 Appendix B.
vii. All patient care reports shall be documented
				electronically.
viii. Complying with
				this waiver shall not constitute patient abandonment pursuant to
				N.J.A.C.
				8:40A-10.2(b)5.
ix. For all other patients complaining of symptoms
				not associated with COVID-19, the provisions set forth at
				N.J.A.C. 8:40-3.6
				and in this section shall remain in effect.
x. The provisions at (b)14i through ix above shall
				not apply to calls for emergency medical services initiated by a healthcare
				provider, such as health providers in long-term care facilities, institutional
				settings, and assisted living facilities.
(1) For
				healthcare provider initiated emergency medical services calls, responding EMTs
				shall transport the patient to the closest, most appropriate acute care hospital and
				shall not use the COVID-19 Triage Protocol; and
15. Prohibiting smoking within the vehicle at all
				times.