Broward County Commission Regular Meeting
Director's Name: Andrew J. Meyers
Department: County Attorney
Information
Requested Action
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MOTION TO ENACT Ordinance, the title of which is as follows:
AN ORDINANCE OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF BROWARD COUNTY, FLORIDA, PERTAINING TO EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES; AMENDING VARIOUS SECTIONS OF CHAPTER 3½ OF THE BROWARD COUNTY CODE OF ORDINANCES ("CODE"); ADDING A NEW CLASSIFICATION OF SERVICE; AMENDING APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS FOR ADVANCED LIFE SUPPORT SERVICE; AMENDING PERSONNEL REQUIREMENTS AND RULES AND REGULATIONS; AND PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY, INCLUSION IN THE CODE, AND AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
(Sponsored by Vice-Mayor Lamar P. Fisher)
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Why Action is Necessary
A Resolution directing the County Administrator to publish notice of public hearing to consider enactment of the Ordinance was adopted by the Board of County Commissioners at its meeting of May 24, 2022.
What Action Accomplishes
Allows for the Board's consideration of the proposed Ordinance.
Is this Action Goal Related
No
Previous Action Taken
Summary Explanation/Background
Chapter 3½ of the Broward County Code of Ordinances ("Code") requires that every person or entity (including governmental entities) that provides Advanced Life Support ("ALS") and Basic Life Support ("BLS") service within Broward County must obtain a certificate of public convenience and necessity ("certificate") from Broward County. The Code provides four classifications of service: (1) Class 1 - ALS rescue; (2) Class 2 - ALS transfer; (3) Class 3 - BLS transport; and (4) Class 4 - ALS air rescue.
Interfacility transfers, the transfer of patients from one licensed medical facility to another, are an important aspect of patient care. The primary reason for such transfers is to maintain the continuity of medical care. Certain transfers may require more specialized care, such as for patients receiving an organ transplant or patients on certain specialized equipment.
The proposed Ordinance (Exhibit 1) adds definitions and creates a new classification of service, Class 5 - ALS specialty transport. Specialty transport means the transportation by an Emergency Medical Service ("EMS") transport vehicle (a) between two facilities licensed under Chapter 395, Florida Statutes, of an organ transplant patient or a patient on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), or (b) to or from an airport of any patient (not restricted to organ transplant or patient or patient on ECMO). An EMS provider awarded a Class 5 - ALS specialty transport certificate may provide specialty transport within Broward County. The proposed amendment also provides that each patient compartment of an EMS transport vehicle used for a Class 5 - ALS specialty transport must be staffed with a minimum of one State-licensed paramedic and one State-licensed emergency medical technician. Additional staff may be in the patient compartment if required by the patient's condition.
Exhibit 2 is an amendment proposed by County Administration that would modify the proposed Ordinance in two ways. First, Exhibit 2 defines specialty transport as the transportation of an organ transplant patient or a patient on ECMO by an EMS transport vehicle (a) between two facilities licensed under Chapter 395, Florida Statutes, or (b) to or from an airport (thus, it does not permit transportation to or from an airport of any patients other than an organ transplant patient or a patient on ECMO). Second, Exhibit 2 requires that an EMS transport vehicle used for a Class 5 - ALS specialty transport be staffed with at least one State-licensed paramedic and at least one physician.
Source of Additional Information
Adam M. Katzman, Senior Assistant County Attorney, 954-357-7600
Fiscal Impact
Fiscal Impact/Cost Summary
Per the Office of Management and Budget, the estimated impact on the budget does not exceed the threshold required for a Fiscal Impact Statement.