South Carolina General Assembly
106th Session, 1985-1986

Bill 2767

                    Current Status

Bill Number:               2767
Ratification Number:       616
Act Number:                527
Introducing Body:          House
Subject:                   Relating to certification of emergency
                           medical technicians
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(Text matches printed bills. Document has been reformatted to meet World Wide Web specifications.)

(A527, R616, H2767)

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 44-61-80, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO CERTIFICATION OF EMERGENCY MEDICAL TECHNICIANS, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT IN-SERVICE TRAINING MAY BE SUBSTITUTED FOR REFRESHER COURSES WHEN APPROVED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL, TO PROVIDE THAT THE PRACTICAL SKILLS EXAMINATION MAY BE ADMINISTERED BY A MEDICAL CONTROL PHYSICIAN WHO MAY WAIVE THE WRITTEN EXAMINATION, AND TO PROVIDE THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL SHALL STUDY AND ASSESS THE USEFULNESS OF THE WRITTEN EXAMINATION AND REPORT ITS FINDINGS TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY NO LATER THAN JANUARY 31, 1989.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:

Certificate required

SECTION 1. Subsections (a) and (d) of Section 44-61-80 of the 1976 Code are amended to read:

"(a) All ambulance attendants shall obtain a valid emergency medical technician certificate unless an exception is granted pursuant to regulations promulgated by the department.

(d) A certificate is valid for a period not exceeding three years from the date of issuance and may be renewed every three years from the date of original certification subject to the holder completing a refresher course and examination during the three-year certification period as required by the department and provided for by this chapter. Upon successful completion of an approved in-service training program directed by the medical control physician during the three-year certification period and passage of the skills evaluation as provided for by the department, the refresher course requirements and the practical skills evaluation may be waived. Failure to pass the written examination after two attempts will require completion of the refresher course and reexamination. The curriculum for in-service training programs required in this subsection shall include but not be limited to subject matter prescribed by the department. The in-service training programs shall consist of classroom and skills phases that may be conducted at ambulance services, educational facilities, or hospitals throughout the State. The medical control physician who evaluates the skills of an emergency medical technician applying for certificate renewal may also grant a waiver of taking the written exam. The waiver must certify that the emergency medical technician is knowledgeable, proficient, and capable of performing the duties of an emergency medical technician. The accomplished waiver substitutes for the written exam, and all others are required to take the prescribed written exam before renewal."

Study

SECTION 2. The Department of Health and Environmental Control is directed to carry out a study to assess the usefulness of the written examination required by the Department for the recertification of emergency medical technicians. The Department shall report its findings to the General Assembly no later than January 31, 1989.

Time effective

SECTION 3. This act shall take effect upon approval by the Governor.