Current through Register Vol. 39, No. 6, September 16, 2024
(a) A Pediatric Specialty Care Ground
Ambulance is an ambulance used to transport only those patients 18 years old or
younger with traumatic or medical conditions or for whom the need for specialty
care or emergency or non-emergency medical care is anticipated during an
inter-facility or discharged patient transport.
(b) To be permitted as a Pediatric Specialty
Care Ground Ambulance, a vehicle shall have:
(1) a patient compartment that meets the
following interior dimensions:
(A) the
length, measured on the floor from the back of the driver's compartment,
driver's seat or partition to the inside edge of the rear loading doors, is at
least 102 inches; and
(B) the
height is at least 48 inches over the patient area, measured from the center of
the floor, exclusive of cabinets or equipment;
(2) patient care equipment and supplies as
defined in the "North Carolina College of Emergency Physicians: Standards for
Medical Oversight and Data Collection." The equipment and supplies shall be
clean, in working order, and secured in the vehicle;
(3) one fire extinguisher mounted in a quick
release bracket that is either a dry chemical or all- purpose type and has a
pressure gauge;
(4) the name of the
EMS Provider permanently displayed on each side of the vehicle;
(5) reflective tape affixed to the vehicle
such that there is reflectivity on all sides of the vehicle;
(6) emergency warning lights and audible
warning devices mounted on the vehicle as required by G.S. 20-125. All warning
devices shall function properly;
(7) no structural or functional defects that
may adversely affect the patient, the EMS personnel, or the safe operation of
the vehicle;
(8) an operational
two-way radio that:
(A) is mounted to the
ambulance and installed for safe operation and controlled by the ambulance
driver;
(B) has the range, radio
frequencies, and capabilities to establish and maintain two-way voice radio
communication from within the defined service area of the EMS System to the
emergency communications center or PSAP designated to direct or dispatch the
deployment of the ambulance;
(C) is
capable of establishing two-way voice radio communication from within the
defined service area to the emergency department of the hospital(s) where
patients are routinely transported and to facilities that provide on-line
medical direction to EMS personnel;
(D) is equipped with a radio control device
in the patient compartment capable of operation by the patient attendant to
receive on-line medical direction; and
(E) is licensed or authorized by the
FCC;
(9) permanently
installed heating and air conditioning systems; and
(10) a copy of the EMS System patient care
treatment protocols.
(c)
Pediatric Specialty Care Ground ambulances shall not use a radiotelephone
device such as a cellular telephone as the only source of two-way radio voice
communication.
(d) Communication
instruments or devices such as data radio, facsimile, computer, or telemetry
radio shall be in addition to the mission dedicated dispatch radio and shall
function independently from the mission dedicated radio.
(e) The Specialty Care Transport Program
medical director shall designate the combination of medical equipment as
required in Subparagraph (b)(2) of this Rule that is carried on a mission based
on anticipated patient care needs.
(f) The ambulance permit for this vehicle
shall remain in effect for two years unless any of the following occurs:
(1) the Department imposes an administrative
sanction which specifies permit expiration;
(2) the EMS Provider closes or goes out of
business;
(3) the EMS Provider
changes name or ownership; or
(4)
failure to comply with the applicable paragraphs of this Rule.
