<div class="chunk-title">Sec. 15-11. - Definitions.</div>
<div class="chunk-content">
            <p class="p0">
               The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this article, shall have the
               meanings ascribed to them in this section, except where the context clearly indicates
               a different meaning:
               </p>
            <p class="p0">
               <span class="ital">Ambulance</span> means any privately or publicly owned motor vehicle, aircraft, or vessel that is
               specially designed, constructed, or modified and equipped and is intended to be used
               for and is maintained or operated for the transportation of patients on the streets
               or highways, waterways or airways of this state.
               </p>
            <p class="p0">
               <span class="ital">Approved</span> means approved by the state medical care commission pursuant to the applicable rules
               and regulations promulgated under state law.
               </p>
            <p class="p0">
               <span class="ital">Communications center</span> means the county communications center which provides a system that coordinates the
               many interdependent agencies and facilities involved in emergency response care.
               </p>
            <p class="p0">
               <span class="ital">County</span> means the county board of commissioners or its designated representative.
               </p>
            <p class="p0">
               <span class="ital">Department</span> means the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services.
               </p>
            <p class="p0">
               <span class="ital">Emergency medical dispatcher</span> means an emergency telecommunicator who has completed an educational program approved
               by the department and has been credentialed as an emergency medical dispatcher by
               the department.
               </p>
            <p class="p0">
               <span class="ital">Emergency medical services</span> means services rendered by emergency medical services personnel in responding to
               improve the health and wellness of the community and to address the individual's need
               for emergency medical care within the scope of practice as defined by the North Carolina
               Medical Board in accordance with state law in order to prevent loss of life or further
               aggravation of physiological or psychological illness or injury.
               </p>
            <p class="p0">
               <span class="ital">Emergency medical services instructor</span> means an individual who has completed educational requirements approved by the department
               and has been credentialed as an emergency medical services instructor by the department.
               </p>
            <p class="p0">
               <span class="ital">Emergency medical services personnel</span> means all the personnel defined herein as an emergency medical dispatcher, emergency
               medical technician, emergency medical technician-intermediate, emergency medical technician-paramedic,
               emergency medical services instructor or medical responder.
               </p>
            <p class="p0">
               <span class="ital">Emergency medical technician (EMT)</span> means an individual who has completed an educational program in emergency medical
               care approved by the department and has been credentialed as an emergency medical
               technician by the department.
               </p>
            <p class="p0">
               <span class="ital">Emergency medical technician-intermediate</span> means an individual who has completed an educational program in emergency medical
               care approved by the department and has been credentialed as an emergency medical
               technician-intermediate by the department.
               </p>
            <p class="p0">
               <span class="ital">Emergency medical technician-paramedic</span> means an individual who has completed an educational program in emergency medical
               care approved by the department and has been credentialed as an emergency medical
               technician-paramedic by the department.
               </p>
            <p class="p0">
               <span class="ital">EMS provider</span> means a firm, corporation or association which engages in or professes to provide
               emergency medical services.
               </p>
            <p class="p0">
               <span class="ital">First responder agency</span> means an organization with personnel trained in emergency medical care that is dispatched
               to the scene of a medical emergency for the primary purpose of providing emergency
               medical assistance to a patient until the ambulance and additional medical aid arrives.
               </p>
            <p class="p0">
               <span class="ital">Franchise</span> means a permit issued by the county to a person, corporation or other legal entity
               for the operation of an ambulance service.
               </p>
            <p class="p0">
               <span class="ital">Franchisee</span> means any person, corporation or other legal entity having been issued a franchise
               by the county for the operation of an ambulance service.
               </p>
            <p class="p0">
               <span class="ital">License</span> means any driver's license or permit to operate a motor vehicle issued under or granted
               by the laws of the state.
               </p>
            <p class="p0">
               <span class="ital">Medical responder</span> means an individual who has completed an educational program in emergency medical
               care and first aid approved by the department and has been credentialed as a medical
               responder by the department.
               </p>
            <p class="p0">
               <span class="ital">Nonemergency transportation services</span> means the operation of an ambulance for any purpose other than transporting emergency
               patients.
               </p>
            <p class="p0">
               <span class="ital">Operator</span> means a person in actual physical control of an ambulance which is in motion or which
               has the engine running.
               </p>
            <p class="p0">
               <span class="ital">Owner</span> means any person who owns an ambulance.
               </p>
            <p class="p0">
               <span class="ital">Patient</span> means an individual who is sick, injured, wounded, or otherwise incapacitated or
               helpless such that the need for some medical assistance might be anticipated.
               </p>
            <p class="p0">
               <span class="ital">Person</span> means any individual, firm, partnership, association, corporation, company, group
               of individuals acting together for a common purpose, or organization of any kind,
               including any governmental agency other than the United States.
               </p>
            <p class="p0">
               <span class="ital">Rescue</span> means a situation where the victim cannot escape an area through the normal exit
               or under his own power.
               </p>
            <p class="p0">
               <span class="ital">Secondary ambulance provider</span> means the system of personnel and equipment meeting the same criteria as a primary
               ambulance provider, but not normally dispatched on first call response.
               </p>
            <p class="historynote0">
               (Ord. No. 2013-11, 8-5-2013)
               </p>
            <p class="refcross0" block_type="hang"><b>Cross referenceâ€” </b>
               Definitions generally, <a href="" data-chunk-id="COOR_CH1GEPR_S1-2DERUCO" class="section-link" data-product-id="13891">Â§ 1-2</a>.
               </p></div>