Standard Operating Procedures - Manual For Ambulance Operations
Standard Operating Procedures - Manual For Ambulance Operations
Standard Operating Procedures - Manual For Ambulance Operations
Contents
Introduction and Background ------------------- 29
Annexure/SOP1-5----------------------------------------- 43
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1.2 Background
SOPs in the case of ambulance operations will be of two types, general and
specific.
General SOPs will detail out the General Attributes and Conduct of
Personnel/NGOs involved in ambulance operations while specific SOPs
will help direct people involved in ambulance operations to respond to and
act upon requests for ambulance services in specific ways.
Ambulance Services personnel will treat all patients with respect and
consideration regardless of their race, color, sex, creed, culture, economic
status and religious beliefs. There will be no discrimination on the basis of
race, sex, sexuality and sexual orientation.
Both the driver and the attendant will ensure that the vehicle and related
equipments are washed and cleaned once daily and in between
transportation of patients. The driver of the vehicle will check the status of
fuel, oxygen cylinder and other necessary equipment as per the checklist
provided (Annexure/SOP- 1) every morning as well as before leaving for a
call. Both the driver and the attendant will complete all paperwork related
to ambulance operations in between calls and at the end of the day.
2.1.3. Attendance
Both the driver and the attendant will be available for ambulance duty at
any point of time to perform the duty. It is the responsibility of the
operating partner to ensure that regular attendance and punctuality is
maintained at all points of time.
2.1.4. Uniform
Standard uniform code will be dark gray shirts and trousers. Both the
driver and the attendant will wear uniforms as specified above while on
duty to promote professionalism and facilitate identification as ambulance
operations staff.
The Driver and the attendant will remain physically and mentally fit and
sound so as to be able to perform their duties at all times.
Guidelines/Protocols:
Contact with the dispatch (ambulance and driver) will be maintained at all
times.
by hospital name.
ii. When the possibility of exposure to blood or other body fluid exists,
gloves are recommended. If hands accidentally become contaminated with
blood, they should be washed thoroughly as soon as possible.
iii. When there is a risk of eye or mouth contamination (for example, the
patient is vomiting bloody material or there is arterial bleeding), protective
eyewear and masks are recommended.
iv. Masks should be worn by the ambulance staff or patient for those
infectious agents transmitted by airborne diseases like Tuberculosis,
Chicken Pox, Measles and the like
i. Any puncture of the skin by a needle or other sharp object that has had
contact with patients blood or body fluids or with fluids infused into the
patient.
b. All call reports to be recorded in duplicate as the call occurs and the
duplicate copy kept in office file.
c. All calls to be registered in the Log Book after the completion of the
call (Annexure/SOP- 3)
3.1A.2 Details of request will be noted in the Request for Ambulance / Call
Record form (Annexure 2) in duplicate. Full address and clear direction for
location of the patient supported by important landmarks will also be noted
down. The employee of RH/BPHC will in turn inform about user charges
and mode of payment to the caller.
3.1A6. In case, the patient is to be transported to any center other than the
RH/BPHC , the concerned employee will intimate and obtain prior
permission for the same from the Superintendent/BMOH/MOIC and then
pass on the necessary information to such center
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3.2A.1. Before movement, the driver will check the status of fuel, oxygen
cylinder and other necessary equipment as per the Check List provided to
him (Annexure/SOP- 1)
3.2A.2. The driver / attendant will take with him the Request for
Ambulance and blank Money Receipt form in duplicate (Money
Receipt form: Annexure/SOP- 4)
3.2A.3. On reaching the pick-up point, the driver will produce Request for
Ambulance form and get the same signed with the time of arrival for pick-
up mentioned at the column provided, by the patients relative.
3.2A.4. The driver / attendant will also tell the patients family members to
take with them the prescription of the Doctor and other important reports.
3.2A.5. The driver and attendant will ensure safe shifting of the patient to
the ambulance on a stretcher, wherever required, with the help of the
accompanying attendant and family members of the patient.
3.2A.6. Only two persons from the patients family will be allowed to
accompany the patient in the ambulance.
3.2B.1. In case the ambulance is not posted at the RH/ BPHC at the time of
receipt of request for ambulance, the driver, on receiving a call from the
RH/BPHC , needs to go to the place of the patient directly from another
location.
3.2B.2. He will use a blank Request for Ambulance form available with
him and arrange to fill in all relevant details in the form
3.2B.4. The Driver shall obtain a post facto approval in the Call Record
from the Superintendent/BMOH/MOIC.
3.3.1. The driver / attendant will take the relatives accompanying the
patient to the Medical Officer of RH/BPHC Referral Hospital on duty for
next course of action
3.3.2. The driver / attendant will then get the Request for Ambulance
form signed along with mention of Time of release in the column
provided by the family member of the patient, collect user charges and
hand over the properly filled money receipt.
3.3.3. The driver will fill the Log Book (Annexure/SOP- 3) kept in the
Ambulance in the custody of the driver and be produced to the
Superintendent/ BMOH/MOIC whenever asked for.
3.3.4. The driver will inform of his arrival to the receiver of requests for
ambulance at the RH/BPHC.
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3.4A.6. In case the Ambulance is out on duty, at the time of the telephone
call, the same should be intimated to the telephone caller with a request to
make an alternative arrangement in case of an extreme emergency.
However, the caller would also be requested to call back after 10 minutes
in case no alternative arrangement could be made by the caller for
transportation of the patient.. In between, contact would be established
with the driver through phone and depending on the status, necessary
actions would be taken.
3.4B.5. In case the Ambulance is out on duty, the same will be intimated to
the personal caller. However, contact would be established with the driver
through phone and depending on the status, necessary actions would be
taken.
3.5.A.1. Before movement, the driver will check the status of fuel, oxygen
cylinder and other necessary equipment as per the Check List provided to
him (check list details: Annexure/SOP 1).
3.5.A.2. The driver will take with him the Call Record form.
(Annexure/SOP-2)
3.5.A.3. On reaching the pick-up point, the driver will ensure safe shifting
of the patient/s to the ambulance on a stretcher, wherever required, with
the help of the accompanying attendant.
b. The driver of the ambulance will obtain written instruction for each
movement of the ambulance from the Superintendent/BMOH or any other
employees authorized by the Superintendent/BMOH/MOIC in this regard
e. In case a patient does not wish to use the services of a RH/BPHC but
wishes to go directly to a higher end facility or a nearest private hospital,
the NGOs/CBO/Trust/etc. can transport such patients to their desired
destination in consultation with the RH/BMOH/MOIC to determine that
there is no higher priority emergency case awaiting transportation at the
RH/BPHC .If during an emergency, the patients are picked up from their
residences and transported directly to the Private Hospitals/Nursing
Homes, the Superintendent/BMOH/MOIC shall post facto approve such
movements in the Call Record after being satisfied about the same.
4.1.2. Allowances
4.1.3 Parking
b. If two patients are transported at the same time to the referral centers,
the total user charges would be equally apportioned amongst the patients.
The NGOs/CBO/Trust/etc will bear all operation costs and expenses for
plying the vehicle including the cost of fuel, lubricants, spare parts and
repairing, regular servicing as well as the AMC.
4.1.7 Reports
4.1.8 Handover
Will be polite
Will be sympathetic
Will note down full details and not take incomplete information
Will be polite
Will be sympathetic
Will check all operational details of the ambulance every morning and
before leaving for an assignment as per checklist (Annexure 1)
At all times will drive the ambulance within permissible speed limits. At
10kms to 20 kms per hour in busy/crowded areas and 30 kms per hour
in less crowded areas/intersections
Will not use the hooter indiscriminately. Will use the hooter only while
transporting patients.
Will not consume alcohol during duty hours or should not have
consumed alcohol 4 hours prior to departure
Will not charge extra money from the relatives of the patients
Checklist
Annexur/SOP-1
Driving and Vehicle Operations
Before driving any ambulance a driver must have the following
documentation:
Vehicle
Certificate of Registration,
Tax Receipt
Insurance Certificate
Pollution Certificate
Operational Checklist
Fuel
Brake Oil
Gear Oil
Coolant
Life saving equipment
Stretcher in place
Vehicle is clean
Hooter is working
Money Receipt
Blank Ambulance Request Form
Battery for the Mobile Phone is fully charged.
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Annexure/SOP- 2
Date: Time:
Patient Name:
Address:
Destination:
Annexure/SOP- 3
Sample of Ambulance Logbook/Ambulance Movement Register
Date Sta Pati Plac Tim Place Tim Time of End Signature Checke
rt ent e of e of e Return kms. of the d&
kms s Pick \In Drop Out to driver of signed
. Na Up RH/BP the by
me HC ambulanc Superin
e tendent/
BMOH
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Annexure/SOP-4
Money Receipt
Name of Patient:
Sex: Age:
Date: Time:
Drop (kms):
Signature of recipient:
Annexure/SOP- 5
MONTHLY REPORT OF THE NGOS FOR THE AMBULANCE SCHEME UNDER PPP
9-A) Number of days the ambulance did not carry any patient
9-B) Reasons:
10-A) Number of times the ambulance used for some other purposes:
10-B) Reasons:
Information under 12-A, 12-B, 13-A and 13-B to be provided by the Superintendent/BMOH
12-A) Total number of patients referred from the RH/BPHC/PHC
(OPD+Em+IPD) during the month
12-B) Number patients availed this (PPP) ambulance out of the total referrals
from the RH/BPHC/PHC during the month
13-A) Total number of beneficiaries under the Referral Transport Scheme from
the RH/BPHC/PHC during the month
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13-B) Number of the beneficiaries availed this (PPP) ambulance out of the total
beneficiaries under the Referral Transport Scheme from the RH/BPHC/PHC
during this month
Abbreviations: