LAC 48:I.6065. Ground Transportation Ambulances [Formerly §6057]

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 that are: a. consistent with the standards of practice for EMS practitioners as established in R.S. 40:1135.1; b. … c. consistent with the recommendation of the Louisiana scope of practice for emergency medical technicians established in R.S. 40:1133.14. d. The equipment and medical supplies are determined by the ambulance service’s/provider’s 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. The medical director shall consider the following supplies and equipment when developing policies and procedures: i. airway, ventilation and oxygenation; ii. bleeding, hemorrhage, control, shock management and wound care; iii. cardiovascular and circulation care; iv. diagnostic tools; v. infection control; vi. medication; vii. medication delivery and vascular access; viii. neonatal care; ix. orthopedic injury care; x. patient packaging, evacuation, and transport; xi. safety; xii. temperature management and heat-loss prevention xiii. miscellaneous items. 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 ambulances shall carry all basic life support equipment and medical supplies that are consistent with the Louisiana scope of practice for emergency medical practitioners established in R.S. 40:1133.14. The additional equipment and medical supplies includes, but is not limited to the following: a. airway and ventilation and oxygenation equipment; b. bleeding, hemorrhage control, shock management and wound care; c. cardiovascular and circulation care; d. diagnostic tools; e. infection control; f. medications; g. medication deliver and vascular access. 7. The equipment and medical supplies is 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. 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.