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Douglas County rewrites Chapter 5: code updates clarify EMS roles and enable licensed nonemergency ambulance providers
Summary
The board adopted a rewrite of Chapter 5 of the county code to reflect current emergency management structure, clarify Lawrence Douglas County Fire Medical's role in emergency transport and create a joint city‑county framework to license third‑party nonemergency ambulance services to preserve 911 resources.
The Douglas County Board of County Commissioners on Jan. 15 adopted a rewrite of Chapter 5 of the county code and approved related resolutions and bylaws that reframe how the county provides emergency medical services and emergency management functions.
County and Lawrence Douglas County Fire Medical (LDCFM) leaders told the commission the rewrite removes outdated cross‑references, assigns responsibilities more clearly within current organizational structures and creates a process for licensing third‑party ambulance operators to handle nonemergency transfers. "Our current practice is that we use the same ambulances that provide 911 service to also provide those non emergency transfer services," said John Darling, director of emergency medical services. The change enables the county and city to license private vendors to perform nonemergency hospital transfers so that LDCFM can prioritize 911 emergency response.
Under the rewritten code and implementing…
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