§ 14-116. Definitions.

Unless the context otherwise requires, the following definitions shall apply to the interpretation and enforcement of this Ordinance:

Advisory committee or committee shall mean the Orange County Emergency Medical Services Committee which is the advisory committee designated by the Board of County Commissioners with respect to emergency medical services in Orange County.

Ambulance means any privately or publicly owned motor vehicle, aircraft, or vessel that is specifically designed, constructed, or modified and equipped and is intended to be used for and is maintained or operated for the transportation on the streets or highways, waterways, or airways of this State of persons who are sick, injured, wounded, or otherwise incapacitated or helpless.

Ambulance provider means an individual, firm, corporation, or association who engages or professes to engage in the business or services of transporting patients in an ambulance.

Approved shall mean approved by the North Carolina Medical Care Commission pursuant to the latter's rules and regulations promulgated under N.C.G.S. 143B-165.

Contract shall mean the instrument by which both parties agree to the terms of operation of the service to be provided.

Convalescent transportation services shall mean the operation of an ambulance for any purpose other than transporting emergency or emergent patients.

County shall mean Orange County and its Board of Commissioners or their designated representative(s).

Emergency or emergency transportation services shall mean the use of a service, its equipment and personnel to provide medical care, rescue, and/or transportation of a patient who is in need of immediate rescue or medical treatment in order to prevent loss of life or further aggravation of physiological or psychological illness or injury.

Emergency Management System or EMS shall mean a coordinated arrangement of local resources under the authority of the Emergency Services Director (including all agencies, personnel, equipment, and facilities) organized to respond to medical emergencies and integrated with other health care providers and networks including public health, community health monitoring activities, and special needs populations.

Emergency medical dispatcher or telecommunicator. shall mean an emergency telecommunicator who has completed educational requirements and been credentialed by the Department of Health and Human Services as an emergency medical dispatcher and who is available to receive requests for emergency services, to dispatch emergency services, and to advise local law enforcement agencies, fire departments, rescue squads, first or medical responder units and emergency medical services and facilities of any existing or threatened emergency.

Emergency medical services means services rendered by emergency medical services personnel in responding to improve the health and wellness of the community and to address the individual's need for emergency medical care within the scope of practice as defined by the North Carolina Medical Board, in accordance with G.S. 143-514, and the Orange County Medical Director in order to prevent loss of life or further aggravation of physiological or psychological illness or injury.

Emergency medical services instructor means an individual who has completed educational requirements approved by the Department of Health and Human Services and has been credentialed by that Department as an emergency medical services instructor.

Emergency medical services peer review committee means a panel composed of EMS program representatives responsible for analyzing patient care data and outcome measures to evaluate the ongoing quality of patient care, system performance, and medical direction within the EMS system. The committee may include physicians, nurses, EMS personnel, medical facility personnel and county government staff as determined by the Emergency Services Director in consultation with the County Medical Director.

Emergency medical technician (EMT) means an individual who has completed a training program in emergency medical care that has been approved for legal recognition by the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, in accordance with rules promulgated by the Medical Care Commission, has been certified as an EMT by the State of North Carolina Office of Emergency Medical Services, and approved by the County Medical Director to perform services as an EMT in the Orange County EMS system.

Emergency medical technician—Intermediate means an individual who has completed a training program in emergency medical care at the intermediate level that has been approved for legal recognition by the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, in accordance with rules promulgated by the Medical Care Commission, has been certified as an EMT - Intermediate by the State of North Carolina Office of Emergency Medical Services, and approved by the County Medical Director to perform services at the EMT-Intermediate level in the Orange County EMS system.

Emergency medical technician—Paramedic means an individual who has completed a training program in emergency medical care at the paramedic level that has been approved for legal recognition by the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, in accordance with rules promulgated by the Medical Care Commission, has been certified as an EMT-Paramedic by the State of North Carolina Office of Emergency Medical Services, and approved by the County Medical Director to perform services as an EMT-Paramedic in the Orange County EMS system..

Emergency services director shall mean the person designated by the Orange County Board of Commissioners to manage the overall Emergency Management System in Orange County.

First responder shall mean an organization with personnel trained in emergency medical care that is dispatched to the scene of a medical emergency for the primary purpose of providing emergency medical assistance to a patient until the ambulance and additional medical aid arrives.

Franchise shall mean a permit issued by the County to a person for the operation of am ambulance service, rescue squad or first responder unit.

Franchisee shall mean any person having been issued a franchise by the County for the operation of an ambulance service, rescue squad or first responder unit.

License shall mean any driver's license or permit to operate a motor vehicle issued under or granted by the laws of the State of North Carolina.

Medical responder shall mean an individual who has completed an educational program in emergency medical care and first aid approved and credentialed by the Department of Health and Human Services as a medical responder and the Orange County Medical Director to operate in Orange County EMS.

Medical director shall mean the physician appointed, either directly or by written delegation, by the County and have the responsibilities as provide by 10A NCAC 13P .0403 and 10A NCAC 13P .0404. The County may, in addition, appoint an assistant medical director. The medical director and the assistant medical director shall meet the criteria defined in the "North Carolina College of Emergency Physicians: Standards of Medical Oversight and Data Collection," which is incorporated by reference in accordance with G.S. 150B-21.6, including subsequent amendments and editions.

Non-emergency transportation services shall mean the operation of an ambulance for any purpose other than transporting emergency or emergent patients.

Operation protocols shall mean the administrative policies and procedures of EMS that provides guidance for the day-to-day operations of the system.

Operator shall mean a person in actual physical control of an ambulance or rescue service vehicle which is in motion or which has the engine running.

Owner shall man any person or entity who owns an ambulance or provides a service covered by this Ordinance.

Patient shall mean an individual who is sick, injured, wounded, or otherwise incapacitated or helpless such that the need for some medical assistance might be anticipated while being transported to or from a medical facility.

Person shall mean any individual, firm, partnership, association, corporation, company, group of individuals acting together for a common purpose, or organization of any kind, including any governmental agency other than the United States.

Practical examination means a test where an applicant for credentialing as an emergency medical technician, or medical responder, emergency medical technician - intermediate, or emergency medical technician - paramedic demonstrates the ability to perform specified emergency medical care skills.

Rescue shall mean the removal of individuals facing external, non-medical, and non-patient related peril to areas of relative safety.

Rescue squad or rescue unit shall mean a group of individuals who are not necessarily trained in emergency medical services, fire fighting, or law enforcement, but who expose themselves to an external, non-medical, and non-patient related peril to effect the removal of individuals facing the same type of peril to areas of relative safety.

Secondary ambulance provider shall mean the system of personnel and equipment meeting the same criteria as a primary ambulance provider, but not normally dispatched on first call response.

Service shall mean the same as owner.

Treatment protocols shall mean a document approved by the medical director and the Office of Emergency Medical Service specifying the diagnostic procedures, treatment procedures, medication administration, and patient-care-related policies that shall be completed by emergency service personnel based upon the assessment of the patient.

Victim shall mean any patient or potential patient that is entrapped, entangled pinned, fallen, suspended, or otherwise in need of rescue services.

(Ord. of 4-20-1993, § I, eff. 4-20-1993; Amend. of 2-16-2010, eff. 2-16-2010)