Operations Plan

Each ambulance service shall have a written operations plan setting forth its policies and procedures. The plan shall be periodically updated and shall be available for inspection by the department at all times. The plan shall include: A. all operational guidelines and medical protocols; B. a quality assurance plan; C. personnel policies for drug and alcohol testing of employees who present as impaired while on duty or are suspected of impairment related to a work related accident or event; D. all mutual aid agreements; E. a disaster and mass casualty plan; F. infection control procedures; G. a description of emergency medical dispatch capabilities; H. work schedule standards to ensure staff are rested and fit-for-duty; and I. anticipated pre-hospital response times in the ambulance service’s territory or patient catchment 18.3.14 NMAC 3 area, and a description of factors that could cause delays to those response times. Factors may include: (1) topography of service territory; (2) staffing issues (ex. volunteers, remote residency, high turnover); (3) density or specific challenges presented by population served (ex. industrial risk, socio- economic factors, behavioral health needs, language barriers); (4) stationing points for ambulances and crews; and (5) variance in weather conditions.