5.20.100 Ambulance businesses.
A. Definitions.
1. “Ambulance” means any emergency vehicle designed and used to transport the ill and injured and to provide facilities and equipped to treat patients before and during transportation as required by the local regulatory authority.
2. “Ambulance operator” means any licensed person who owns one or more ambulances and operates them as a private business.
3. “Ambulance service” means any person or corporation as hereinafter defined who operates any private emergency medical transportation service for hire which is for the purpose of providing transportation of those who are ill or injured; provided, however, that the provisions of this chapter shall not apply to any ambulance service which enters the city while delivering those ill and/or injured, transported from points outside the limits of the city.
4. “Communications system” means two-way radio communication between ambulances, dispatchers, hospitals and other agencies as identified by the local authority having jurisdiction.
5. “Emergency equipment” means such facilities and equipment to be used in treatment of persons injured, ill or incapacitated as required by the state of Washington ambulance licensing requirements.
6. “Emergency medical care” or “emergency medical service” means such medical treatment which may be rendered to persons injured, ill or incapacitated at the scene of such injury, illness or incapacitation meeting the patient care standards of the authority having jurisdiction.
7. “Emergency medical technician” means any person who has successfully completed the prescribed course of instruction and who has achieved a demonstrative level of competence to treat victims who are injured or ill or any other emergent condition as prescribed by the authority having jurisdiction.
B. License Application – Qualifications – Requirements to Apply.
1. Liability Insurance Required. The applicant shall be required to file, as a condition of conducting an ambulance service within the city, a copy of liability insurance policies or certified copies of same together with the evidence of premium payments issued by a responsible insurance company and naming the city as additional insured which insures against all claims for personal injury, death and property damage, arising out of operation of the ambulance service or first-aid vehicles, and the care of patients. The limits of such liability insurance policy shall be not less than $1,000,000 per person and $1,000,000 per accident and the property damage liability coverage shall be not less than $1,000,000 or a combined single liability of $1,000,000.
2. License – Approval Conditions. The license application shall be approved pursuant to the following: the applicant has fulfilled all requirements of this chapter and other provisions of law requiring ambulance design, equipment, operation, and qualification of medical attendants; and the applicant has indicated the ability to provide adequate services within the city and that they have the necessary equipment, attendants and accessories to operate such service successfully on a continuing basis.
C. License Regulations.
1. Safety, Medical and Training Requirements.
a. Any person or company engaging in the business as set forth in this chapter shall be required to be aware of and comply with all local, county, state and federal safety, medical and training requirements for the business.
b. Prior to the issuance of such license, the vehicle and the equipment contained therein may be inspected by a representative from the fire department or other agencies as the city may so designate.
2. Medical Attendants – Requirements Generally.
a. Each ambulance service shall have for each ambulance in service, on duty and available for immediate response, two medical attendants, both of which shall have in their possession a state-approved current emergency medical technician’s certificate. This certificate shall be in the possession of each ambulance attendant or driver at all times, while on duty.
b. Each attendant must be 18 years of age or older at the time of issuance of the license.
3. Ambulance Equipment.
a. Sirens and emergency vehicle lighting shall conform with the laws of the state of Washington.
b. A two-way radio communication system or other electronic communication system capable of providing communication between the ambulance and their dispatcher and the ambulance and the hospital shall be required.
c. Each ambulance shall be equipped so that the patient-care compartment has ample space to provide for two patients at the same time together with space for the attendant to assist both patients. Each ambulance and all equipment shall be maintained in a sanitary manner and be in good operating condition at all times as required by the laws of the state of Washington.
d. The “star of life” emergency medical identification symbol shall be placed upon all ambulances doing business within the city. This emblem shall be readily visible on each side of the ambulance, on the back, and on the roof. The same symbol shall be on the front if the vehicle design permits. The word “ambulance” in a sharply contrasting color shall be under each “star of life” written in letters not less than three inches in height. The word “ambulance” in black letters shall be in mirror image on the front of the vehicle for mirror identification by drivers ahead. The “star of life” is a six-barred cross upon which is superimposed the staff of Aesculapius, who in Roman mythology was the god of medicine and healing.
4. Schedule of Rates.
a. All ambulance services licensed under this chapter shall, upon issuance of an ambulance license, file with the business license clerk its schedule of rates to be charged for services during the license period for which the application has been made.
b. Such schedule of rates shall be made a public record and open to public inspection at the office of the business license clerk during normal business hours. Each licensee shall adhere to such schedule throughout the period for which the license has been issued.
5. State Statute Compliance. All ambulance businesses shall also comply with Chapter 18-73 WAC.
6. The city may contract with a sole provider for exclusive ambulance transport services within its jurisdiction boundaries. (Ord. 5990 § 1, 2006; Ord. 5897 § 10, 2005; Ord. 4012 § 2, 1984.)