§ 1027.7. EMS vehicle fleet.
(a) Inspection of EMS vehicles. When an applicant for an EMS agency license is inspected, a Department or regional EMS council inspector will inspect each vehicle the applicant intends to operate as an EMS vehicle. If the vehicle satisfies the requirements for the type of EMS vehicle designated by the applicant, and the applicant otherwise satisfies the requirements for licensure and to conduct a service for which the EMS vehicle will be used, the inspector will affix a date stripe, with an inspection and expiration date, to two decals appropriate to that type of EMS vehicle and provide the decals to the applicant. The applicant shall place a decal in a prominent location on each side of the vehicle. The applicant may not operate the vehicle as an EMS vehicle until the applicant is licensed as an EMS agency and it affixes the decals to the EMS vehicle.
(b) Permanent change. Before operating an additional or permanent replacement EMS vehicle, an EMS agency shall submit an application for amendment of its license to the regional EMS council through which its license application was processed. The EMS agency may not operate that vehicle as an EMS vehicle unless, as described in subsection (a), it is authorized to do so following an inspection of the vehicle and it affixes decals to the vehicle.
(c) Temporary change. An EMS agency may operate a temporary replacement EMS vehicle without securing prior approval from the Department. It shall submit a temporary change of vehicle form to the regional EMS council through which its license application was processed, by facsimile, e-mail or regular mail before putting the EMS vehicle in service. In the form the EMS agency shall attest to the fact that the EMS vehicle satisfies the requirements for that type of EMS vehicle that are imposed by regulation and notices published in the Pennsylvania Bulletin. Upon submitting a temporary change of vehicle form, the EMS agency may continue to operate the temporary replacement EMS vehicle unless its authority to do so is disapproved by the inspector following an inspection of the EMS vehicle. Upon receiving a temporary change in vehicle form, the regional EMS council shall issue a letter which acknowledges receipt of the temporary change of vehicle form and authorizes the EMS agency to operate the replacement EMS vehicle for 7 days based upon its attestation that the vehicle satisfies all requirements. That time period may be extended by the regional EMS council by letter.
(d) Triennial inspections. A Department or regional EMS council inspector will inspect an EMS agency’s EMS vehicles when the inspector conducts the inspection of the EMS agency for the triennial registration of the EMS agency’s license. If an EMS vehicle satisfies all requirements the inspector will affix a new date stripe to each decal to reflect that the vehicle has satisfied EMS vehicle inspection requirements. If the vehicle does not satisfy the requirements, the inspector will not affix a new date stripe to each decal and the EMS agency may not operate the vehicle as an EMS vehicle unless and until the vehicle is reinspected, satisfies all requirements, and the inspector affixes a new date stripe on each decal.
(e) Removal of decals. A Department or regional EMS council inspector will require the EMS agency to remove the decals from an EMS vehicle when directed by the Department under § 1027.8(b) (relating to removal of EMS vehicles from operation). An EMS agency shall remove the decals from an EMS vehicle when the EMS agency transfers the title or operation of the EMS vehicle to another entity, other than to enable another EMS agency to operate the EMS vehicle as a temporary replacement vehicle under subsection (c), or when it discontinues use of the vehicle as an EMS vehicle.
(f) Ambulance requirements. An ambulance must meet the following minimum requirements:
(1) It must have a patient care compartment that is designed to carry at least one patient on a stretcher that is securely mounted to the ambulance and that enables transportation in both the supine and seated upright positions.
(2) It must have a patient care compartment that is designed to provide sufficient access to a patient’s body to perform and maintain ALS skills, including adequate space for one caregiver to sit superior to the patient’s head to perform required ALS airway skills, and other EMS required by the Statewide EMS protocols.
(3) It must have a design that does not compromise patient safety during loading, unloading or patient transport. It must be equipped with a door that will allow loading and unloading of the patient without excessive maneuvering.
(4) It must be equipped with permanently installed climate control equipment to provide an environment appropriate for the medical needs of a patient.
(5) It must have interior lighting adequate to enable medical care to be provided and patient status monitored without interfering with the vehicle operator’s vision.
(6) It must be designed for patient safety so that the patient is isolated from the operator’s compartment in a manner that minimizes distractions to the vehicle operator during patient transport and prevents interference with the operator’s manipulation of vehicle controls.
(7) It must be equipped with appropriate patient restraints and with restraints in every seating position within the patient compartment.
(8) An ALS ambulance used for critical care transports and an air ambulance must be equipped with 110 V electrical output with a minimum of four appropriate outlets within the patient compartment with the ability to operate the vehicle while operating medical equipment using all outlets simultaneously.
(9) It must have enough space to accommodate the loading, unloading and transport of an infant isolette and permit sufficient access to the infant’s entire body to begin and maintain ALS and other treatment modalities within the isolette.
(10) It must be equipped with two-way radios capable of communication with medical command facilities, receiving facility communications centers, PSAPs and ambulances for the purpose of communicating medical information and assuring the continuity of resources for patient care needs.
(11) It must carry an oxygen supply that is capable of providing high flow oxygen at more than 25 liters per minute to a patient for the anticipated duration of patient transport.
Source The provisions of this § 1027.7 adopted October 11, 2013, effective April 10, 2014, 43 Pa.B. 6093.
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