§ 3.20.070. Functions and duties.

A.

The commission shall perform all of the functions of the emergency medical care committee as defined in Health and Safety Code Sections 1750, et seq., and shall have the following duties:

1.

To act in an advisory capacity to the board of supervisors and the director of health services regarding county policies, programs, and standards for emergency medical care services throughout the county, including paramedic services;

2.

To establish appropriate criteria for evaluation and to conduct continuous evaluation on the basis of these criteria of the impact and quality of emergency medical care services throughout the county;

3.

To conduct studies of particular elements of the emergency medical care system as requested by the board of supervisors, the director of health services or on its own initiative; to delineate problems and deficiencies and to recommend appropriate solutions;

4.

To acquire and analyze the information necessary for measuring the impact and the quality of emergency medical care services;

5.

To report its finding, conclusions, and recommendations to the board of supervisors at least every 12 months;

6.

To review and comment on plans and proposals for emergency medical care services prepared by county departments;

7.

To recommend, when the need arises, that the county engage independent contractors for the performance of specialized temporary or occasional services to the commission which cannot be performed by members of the classified service, and for which the county otherwise has the authority to contract;

8.

To advise the department of health service and its director on the following matters:

a.

Policies, procedures, and standards to control the certification of mobile intensive care nurses and paramedics;

b.

Proposals of any public or private organization to initiate or modify a program of paramedic services or training;

9.

To arbitrate differences in the field of paramedic services and training between all sectors of the community, including, but not limited to, county agencies, municipalities, public safety agencies, community colleges, hospitals, private companies, and physicians.

B.

A decision of the commission regarding a matter which the commission hears under its arbitration function pursuant to subparagraph 9 hereinabove will be final and binding upon the parties who appeared before the commission on the matter unless the board of supervisors at any time promulgates policy which is inconsistent with such determination. Further, the commission shall refer to the board of supervisors and any other affected provider agency any such decision of the commission which will either affect the budget of the county, or any other provider agency, for the paramedic program, or operate to change an existing county-approved policy. Such decision shall not become final and binding unless adopted by the board of supervisors. Additionally, any such decision of the commission shall be advisory only if its implementation will affect any county paramedic program matter which the county health officer, the local emergency medical services agency, or board of supervisors has power to regulate pursuant to Health and Safety Code Sections 1480, et seq., and Health and Safety Code Sections 1797.200, et seq.

(Ord. 12332 § 1 (part), 1981: Ord. 12201 § 1 (part), 1980: Ord. 12040 § 1 (part), 1979: Ord. 12023 § 3 (part), 1979: Ord. 11909 § 1, 1979: Ord. 11179 § 1 (part), 1975: Ord. 4099 Art. 107 § 20505, 1942.)