La. Admin. Code tit. 48 § I-6065

Current through Register Vol. 50, No. 9, September 20, 2024

Section I-6065 - Ground Transportation Ambulances

A. Any vehicle used as a ground transportation ambulance shall be designed and constructed by the manufacturer as such and shall not be used to transport more than the intended patient capacity of the vehicle.

B. The following medical and safety equipment are requirements for certification of all ground ambulances operating within the state of Louisiana.

1. All ground transportation ambulances shall have a national standard public safety two-way radio communication (day-to-day communications). The ambulance dispatch center(s) and/or point(s) of dispatch must be capable of interactive two-way communications within all of the service's defined area.

2. Two-way radio with disaster communications shall be compatible with the statewide LWIN system and statewide interoperability channels.

a. Any unit used during a declared disaster that responds outside of the usual coverage area shall meet ESF-8 requirements for communication capability.

3. Direct communication with a physician and hospital must be conducted through an appropriate system sufficient to ensure adequate communication such as:

a. a radio compatible with the statewide LWIN system; or

b. wireless telephone; or

c. radio-telephone switch station (RTSS); or

d. med. 10 system, etc.

4. All ground transportation ambulances shall carry basic life support equipment and medical supplies as determined by the ambulance service/provider medical director and governing body who have developed policies and procedures to maintain, update, or not carry certain medical supplies and equipment as medically indicated or contraindicated for their service area and have documentation available to support the determination. Such basic life support equipment and medical supplies shall be:

a. consistent with the standards of practice for EMS practitioners;

b. consistent with the density of the population served and geographic conditions of the region; and

c. consistent with the recommendation of the Louisiana scope of practice for emergency medical technicians established in R.S. 40:1133.14 and consistent with the joint position statement for "equipment for ground ambulance". This includes, but is not limited to the following:

i. ventilation and airway equipment;

ii. cardiac monitoring and defibrillation;

iii. immobilization devices;

iv. bandages/hemorrhage control;

v. communication; and

vi. any other equipment required by law that shall be maintained on the ambulance.

5. All ambulances that are not staffed and equipped to the advanced life support level shall carry an automated external defibrillator (either automatic or semi-automatic) with the appropriate lead cables and at least two sets of the appropriate disposable defibrillation pads or electrodes, for adult and non-adult patients, for monitoring and defibrillation. If the automated defibrillator is also capable of manual defibrillation, an appropriate lock-out mechanism (such as an access code, computer chip, or lock and key) to prevent unauthorized use of the device by those persons not authorized to manually defibrillate must be an integral part of the device.

6. All advanced life support emergency medical response vehicles shall carry equipment and medical supplies dependent on the level of licensure of personnel and as determined by the ambulance service/provider medical director and governing body who have developed policies and procedures to maintain, update, or not carry certain advanced life support equipment and medical supplies as medically indicated or contraindicated for their service area and have documentation available to support the determination.

a. Such equipment and supplies shall be determined by the ambulance service/provider medical director and governing body who have developed policies and procedures to maintain, update or delete certain advanced life support equipment and medical supplies as medically indicated or contraindicated for their service area and have documentation available to support the determination; and

b. Such equipment and supplies shall be consistent with the Louisiana scope of practice for emergency medical practitioners established in R.S. 40:1133.14, including of all basic life support equipment and medical supplies and the equipment and medical supplies consistent with the Joint policy Statement for "equipment for ground ambulance". The additional equipment and medical supplies includes, but is not limited to the following:

i. vascular access;

ii. medications;

iii. cardiac monitor/defibrillator with transcutaneous pacing capabilities;

iv. any other equipment required by law that shall be maintained on the ambulance.

c. All ground transportation ambulances shall have functional temperature control in the patient compartment. Such temperature control equipment shall function within the vehicle manufacturer's recommended guidelines or specifications.

La. Admin. Code tit. 48, § I-6065

Promulgated by the Department of Health and Hospitals, Office of the Secretary, Bureau of Health Services Financing, LR 35:482 (March 2009), Promulgated by the Department of Health, Office of Public Health, Bureau of Emergency Medical Services, LR 49897 (5/1/2023).

AUTHORITY NOTE: Promulgated in accordance with R.S. 36:254, R.S. 40:1135.2 and R.S 40:1135.2.