<?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>
<regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".02" citation="COMAR 30.09.07.02" title_num="30" subtitle_num="09" chapter_num="07" heading="Operational Requirements for Commercial Ambulance Services.">
  <paragraph num="A.">
    <text>Staffing. A commercial ambulance service shall:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Staff each ambulance with a minimum of two EMS providers;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Require that EMS providers:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Have a valid identification card issued by MIEMSS showing the provider is licensed or certified by the EMS Board in their possession while on duty; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Upon request of SOCALR, provide their certification or license for inspection;</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>Assure that each BLS licensed ground ambulance is staffed with:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>A driver who is certified as emergency medical responder or higher and possesses and, while on duty, carries a valid motor vehicle license; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>An individual in addition to the driver who is an emergency medical technician or higher, who is responsible for the patient until the patient is:</text>
        <paragraph num="(i)">
          <text>Discharged in accordance with written physician orders; or</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(ii)">
          <text>Delivered to a medical facility, nursing home, residence, or other home care system appropriate for the patient's condition;</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(4)">
      <text>Assure that each ALS licensed ground ambulance is staffed with:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>A driver who is certified as an emergency medical responder or higher and possesses and, while on duty, carries a valid motor vehicle license; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>An individual in addition to the driver who is a licensed CRT or higher, who is responsible for the patient until the patient is:</text>
        <paragraph num="(i)">
          <text>Discharged in accordance with written physician orders; or</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(ii)">
          <text>Delivered to a medical facility, nursing home, residence, or other home care system appropriate for the patient's condition;</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(5)">
      <text>Assure that each air ambulance is staffed with a commercial ambulance crew and as required by CAMTS;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(6)">
      <text>Require that each nurse who is a regular crew member be familiar with the Maryland Protocols for EMS Providers;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(7)">
      <text>Require all employees to clearly display personal identification in readable text which includes the:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Employee's last name; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Certification or license held by the individual;</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(8)">
      <text>Require EMS providers to wear a certification or license insignia which is clearly displayed on the EMS providers' outermost garments;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(9)">
      <text>Require that employees display only valid certification or license identification or insignias; and</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(10)">
      <text>Assure that EMS providers do not wear or display identification suggesting affiliation with any other service, organization, department, company, or agency.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="B.">
    <text>Premises. A commercial ambulance service shall:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Display its commercial ambulance service license, or a copy of it, at all locations of operation in a manner clearly visible to the public, at all times;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Make readily available at all times for review by employees at the operating base and all satellite bases a current copy of:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>COMAR 30.01;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>COMAR 30.02;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>COMAR 30.03;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(d)">
        <text>COMAR 30.04;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(e)">
        <text>COMAR 30.09; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(f)">
        <text>The documents incorporated by reference in this title;</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>Maintain the premises identified on the application in a clean and orderly manner; and</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(4)">
      <text>Upon request from SOCALR, allow the inspection of the areas in which are located the commercial ambulance service's:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Primary place of business;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Satellite offices; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>Records.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="C.">
    <text>Infection Control Standards.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>An ambulance service shall:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Use freshly laundered linen or disposable sheets and pillowcases or their equivalent for each patient;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Show evidence of sanitary laundering arrangements, acceptable to SOCALR, for reusable linen;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>Store medical supplies in a clean and sanitary manner;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(d)">
        <text>Clean all equipment used after each patient; including:</text>
        <paragraph num="(i)">
          <text>Ambulance stretcher; and</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(ii)">
          <text>Stretcher mattress;</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(e)">
        <text>Clean the patient compartment surfaces in the ambulance at least daily, and use a disinfectant in accordance with 29 CFR §1910.1030:</text>
        <paragraph num="(i)">
          <text>When surfaces become obviously contaminated;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(ii)">
          <text>After any spill of blood or other potentially infectious material; and</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(iii)">
          <text>Routinely throughout the work shift if contamination might have occurred;</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(f)">
        <text>Provide adequate hand-washing facilities with:</text>
        <paragraph num="(i)">
          <text>Hot and cold running water;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(ii)">
          <text>Antiseptic soap; and</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(iii)">
          <text>A sanitary method for hand drying;</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(g)">
        <text>Require that each crew member wash their hands with an antiseptic agent before and after each patient contact;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(h)">
        <text>Dispose of equipment or supplies that are not reusable after use;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(i)">
        <text>Disinfect equipment or supplies intended to be clean but not sterile after each use or when they become soiled; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(j)">
        <text>Sterilize equipment or supplies after each use or when sterility has been compromised.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>A commercial ambulance service may not transport a corpse unless:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>There is a compelling public interest for moving the body or body parts;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Transport is not readily available by a funeral home; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>An authorized representative of the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner requests transport.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>After the transport of a body in accordance with §C(2) of this regulation, a commercial ambulance service shall assure that the ambulance patient compartment is disinfected.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="D.">
    <text>Training and Continuing Education Requirements. A commercial ambulance service shall:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Provide an orientation to all new employees that includes a review of:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>COMAR 30.02;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>COMAR 30.09; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>The documents incorporated by reference in Title 30;</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Before assigning duties and at least annually thereafter provide training at no cost to all employees which includes:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Blood-borne pathogens in accordance with 29 CFR §1910.1030;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Hazard Communication Plan in accordance with 29 CFR §1910.1200;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>FDA Medical Device Reporting in accordance with 21 CFR 803 et al.; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(d)">
        <text>Other training required by the Maryland Occupational Safety and Health regulations;</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>Provide for adequate training and continuing education opportunities to fulfill the minimum recertification or license renewal requirements for EMS providers; and</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(4)">
      <text>Absorb the cost for providing training that will meet the recertification or relicensure requirements of EMS providers who worked for the commercial service an average of 20 hours per week for the previous 12 months.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="E.">
    <text>Medical Direction Requirements. A commercial ambulance service shall:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Retain one or more participating physicians who agree to:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Assume physician responsibilities for the commercial ambulance service and its EMS providers; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Comply with all applicable sections of COMAR 30.03; and</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Provide an EMS skills review for the commercial ambulance service's EMS providers which meets their recertification and relicensing requirements.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="F.">
    <text>Compliance with Statutes and Regulations. A commercial ambulance service shall:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Comply with all applicable laws, including:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>COMAR 30.02;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>COMAR 30.03;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>COMAR 30.09; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(d)">
        <text>The requirements contained in Maryland Medical Protocols for Emergency Medical Providers;</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Maintain uninterrupted and continuous insurance coverage as required in COMAR 30.09.04.06;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>Monitor the care provided by its EMS providers and ambulance drivers on an ongoing basis;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(4)">
      <text>Within 72 hours of occurrence, report any violations of:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>COMAR 30.02;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>COMAR 30.09; or</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>The documents incorporated by reference in this title;</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(5)">
      <text>Comply with all local, State, and federal laws and regulations including:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Transportation Article, §11-101—27-109, Annotated Code of Maryland (relating to motor vehicle and emergency vehicle operations);</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>COMAR 11.14 (relating to motor vehicle safety requirements);</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>Maryland Department of Health regulations under COMAR Title 10;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(d)">
        <text>Maryland Occupational Safety and Health regulations under COMAR 09.12;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(e)">
        <text>29 CFR §1910.1030 (relating to blood-borne pathogens);</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(f)">
        <text>29 CFR §1910.1200 (Hazard Communications/Employee Right to Know); and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(g)">
        <text>21 CFR 803 et al. (FDA Medical Device Reporting Requirements).</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
</regulation>