Guam § 84101 - Intent.

§ 84101. Intent.

I Liheslaturan Guahan hereby declares that:

(a) the provision of emergency medical services is a

matter of vital concern affecting the public health, safety and

welfare of the people of Guam;

(b) it is the purpose of this Chapter to establish,

promote and maintain a comprehensive emergency medical

services system throughout the island. The system will

provide for the arrangement of personnel, facilities, and

equipment for the effective and coordinated delivery of

health care services under emergency conditions, whether

occurring as the result of a patient’s condition or of natural

disasters or other causes. The system shall also provide for

personnel, personnel training, communications, emergency

transportation, facilities, coordination with emergency

medical and critical care services, coordination and use of

available public safety agencies, promotion of consumer

participation, accessibility to care, mandatory standard

medical recordkeeping, consumer information and

education, independent review and evaluation, disaster

linkage, mutual aid agreements, and other components

necessary to meet the purposes of this part;

(c) it is the intent of I Liheslatura to assure the island

community that prompt, efficient and effective emergency

medical services will be provided as mandated by Public Law

17-78, § 72105 which states that the Guam Fire Department

shall have the authority and responsibility of operating an

emergency medical and rescue services system. Therefore, I

Liheslatura recognizes the Guam Fire Department in its role

as the designated central agency for the overall operation of

the island’s enhanced 911 emergency medical services

system. Furthermore, I Liheslatura finds that in order for the

Guam Fire Department to provide prompt, efficient and

effective quality emergency medical care, coordination

between EMS agencies and the EMS Commission is a key

element in a functioning EMS System; and

(d) it is the intent of I Liheslatura in enacting this

Chapter to prescribe and exercise the degree of government

of Guam direction and supervision over emergency medical

services as will provide for the government of Guam action

immunity under federal antitrust laws for activities

undertaken by local governmental entities in carrying out

their prescribed functions under this Chapter.