Spokane Municipal Code

Title 10 Regulation of Activities

Division II. License Code

Chapter 10.47 Emergency Medical Transport

Section 10.47.080 Patient Care and Transfer

The procedure for patient care at an incident and for the transfer of care of such person(s) shall follow the Spokane County EMS & Trauma Council Protocols:

1. Medical Command at the Scene.

1. 1. Fire Personnel on Scene First.

1. 1. 1. Upon arrival on the scene of a medical emergency where patient care is being provided by Spokane Fire Department personnel, the ambulance crew seeks out the officer or paramedic in command of the incident.

1. 1. 2. Fire personnel remain in charge of the incident in accordance with state law.

1. 1. 3. Fire personnel remain in charge of patient care until it is specifically relinquished to the ambulance personnel.

1. 2. Ambulance Crew Scene First.

1. 1. 1. Where the ambulance company has arrived first on the scene of a medical emergency, the officer in charge of the subsequently arriving Spokane Fire Department unit seeks out the ambulance attendant in charge for a report on the condition of the patient, any treatment that may have been provided, and any other necessary information.

1. 1. 2. Following this transfer of information, the fire officer will follow the adopted Spokane County EMS Protocols for On Scene Medical Authority and Assistance and utilize fire resources to assist patient care to the extent possible.

1. 3. Order of Authority.

Patient care at an incident is subject to the following ascending order of authority as described by the Spokane County EMS & Trauma Care Council Protocol:

1. 1. 1. First responder

1. 1. 2. Emergency medical technician (first arriving, either fire or private).

1. 1. 3. Paramedic or flight nurse (first arriving, either fire or private).

1. 1. 4. Physician with acceptance of ‘Thank You For Your Offer of Assistance’ card.

1. 1. 5. EMS supervising physician.

1. 1. 6. Spokane County Medical Program Director.

2. Patient Care Procedures and Protocols.

1. 1. Patient care procedures and protocols shall comply with the Spokane County pre-hospital patient care procedures and protocols established by the Spokane County EMS & Trauma Care Council, East Region EMS & Trauma Care Council, and Spokane County Medical Program Director.

1. 2. Concerns about patient care procedures, including compliance, should be referred to the Spokane County EMS & Trauma Care Council.

3. Patient Transfer.

1. 1. Loading of patients into the ambulance is under the direction of ambulance company personnel.

1. 2. The ambulance company assumes responsibility for patient care from fire personnel in accordance with subsection (A)(1) of this section, except that a advanced life support (ALS) patient care may remain the responsibility of the advanced life support personnel providing the patient care if such ALS provider accompany the patient during transport.

1. 3. Should the condition of a patient or the number of patients necessitate more than the ambulance company’s personnel in the patient compartment to appropriately treat the patient(s), the ambulance company and the fire officer shall mutually determine if the Spokane Fire Department will provide additional personnel to assist with patient care en route to the hospital.

4. Selection of Hospital.

The order of priority in transporting patients to hospitals shall be consistent with Spokane County EMS & Trauma Council Operating Procedures, East Region EMS and Trauma Care Council Patient Care Procedures, and Washington state trauma, cardiac, and stroke destination procedures.

Date Passed: Monday, May 5, 2025

Effective Date: Wednesday, June 11, 2025

ORD C36668 Section 9