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H. 3710
STATUS INFORMATION
General Bill
Sponsors: Rep. Crawford
Document Path: l:\council\bills\nbd\11308ac09.docx
Companion/Similar bill(s): 4718
Introduced in the House on March 11, 2009
Currently residing in the House Committee on Medical, Military, Public and Municipal Affairs
Summary: Emergency Medical Services Act
HISTORY OF LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS
Date Body Action Description with journal page number
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3/11/2009 House Introduced and read first time HJ-13
3/11/2009 House Referred to Committee on Medical, Military, Public and
Municipal Affairs HJ-13
View the latest legislative information at the LPITS web site
VERSIONS OF THIS BILL
TO AMEND ARTICLE 1, CHAPTER 61, TITLE 44, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO THE EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES ACT OF SOUTH CAROLINA, SO AS TO REVISE DEFINITIONS; TO REVISE THE COMPOSITION OF THE EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES ADVISORY COUNCIL; TO PROVIDE FOR THE POSITION OF STATE MEDICAL CONTROL PHYSICIAN AND TO PROVIDE FOR THE DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THIS POSITION; TO PROVIDE THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL SHALL ESTABLISH AMBULANCE AND EMERGENCY MEDICAL TECHNICIAN LICENSE, PERMIT, AND CERTIFICATION FEES TO BE USED TO CARRY OUT AND ENFORCE THE PROVISIONS OF THE EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES PROGRAM; TO FURTHER SPECIFY EMERGENCY MEDICAL RESPONSE AND AMBULANCE SERVICE LICENSE AND PERMIT REQUIREMENTS, AMBULANCE EQUIPMENT REQUIREMENTS, AND EMERGENCY MEDICAL TECHNICIAN CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS, INCLUDING NATIONAL REGISTRATION FOR EMT'S AND TO PROVIDE AN EXCEPTION; TO PROVIDE CIVIL PENALTIES FOR VIOLATIONS; TO FURTHER PROVIDE FOR INVESTIGATIVE REVIEW OF ACTIONS OF EMT'S; AND TO PROVIDE THAT INFORMATION PERTAINING TO SANCTIONS TAKEN AS A RESULT OF AN INVESTIGATION MAY BE RELEASED IN ACCORDANCE WITH CERTAIN DEPARTMENT REGULATIONS.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:
SECTION 1. Article 1, Chapter 61, Title 44 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:
Section 44-61-10. This article may be cited as the 'Emergency Medical Services Act of South Carolina'.
Section 44-61-20. As used in this article, and unless otherwise specified, the term:
(a) 'Ambulance' means a vehicle maintained or operated by a licensed provider who has obtained the necessary permits and licenses for the transportation of persons who are sick, injured, wounded, or otherwise incapacitated.
(b) 'Attendant' means a trained and qualified individual responsible for the operation of an ambulance and the care of the patients, regardless of whether the attendant also serves as driver.
(c) 'Attendant-driver' means a person who is qualified as an attendant and a driver.
(d) 'Driver' means an individual who drives or otherwise operates an ambulance.
(e) 'Permit' means an authorization issued for an ambulance vehicle which meets the standards adopted pursuant to this article.
(f) 'License' means an authorization to a person, firm, corporation, or governmental division or agency to provide emergency medical, services in the State.
(g) 'Licensee' means any person, firm, corporation, or governmental division or agency possessing authorization, permit, license, or certification to provide emergency medical service in this State.
(h) 'Certificate' means official acknowledgment by the department that an individual has completed successfully one of the appropriate emergency medical technician training courses referred to in this article in addition to completing successfully the requisite examinations, which entitles that individual to perform the functions and duties as delineated by the classification for which the certificate was issued.
(i) 'Board' means the governing body of the Department of Health and Environmental Control or its designated representative.
(j) 'Emergency medical service system' means the arrangement of personnel, facilities, and equipment for the delivery of health care services under emergency conditions.
(k) 'Emergency medical technician' (technician) means an individual possessing a valid, basic, intermediate, or paramedic certificate issued by the State pursuant to the provisions of this article.
(l) 'Standards' means the required measurable components of an emergency medical service system having permanent and recognized value that provide adequate emergency health care delivery.
(m) 'Authorized agent' means any individual designated to represent the department.
(n) 'Patient' means an individual who is sick, injured, wounded, or otherwise incapacitated or helpless.
(o) 'Operator' means an individual, firm, partnership, association, corporation, company, group, or individuals acting together for a common purpose or organization of any kind, including any governmental agency other than the United States.
(p) 'Department' means the administrative agency known as the Department of Health and Environmental Control.
(q) 'National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians Registration' is given to an individual who has completed successfully the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians examination and its requirements.
(r) 'In-service training' means a course of training approved by the department that is conducted by the licensed provider for his personnel at his prime location.
(s) 'Convalescent vehicle' means a vehicle that is used for making nonemergency calls such as scheduled visits to a physician's office or hospital for treatment, routine physical examinations, x-rays or laboratory tests, or is used for transporting patients upon discharge from a hospital or nursing home to a hospital or nursing home or residence, or other nonemergency calls.
(t) 'EMT First Responder Agency' means a licensed agency providing medical care at the EMT Basic level or above, as a nontransporting first responder.
(u) 'Emergency transport' means services and transportation provided after the sudden onset of a medical condition manifesting itself by acute symptoms of such severity including severe pain that the absence of medical attention could reasonably be expected to result in the following:
(1) placing the patient's health in serious jeopardy;
(2) causing serious impairment to bodily functions;
(3) causing serious dysfunction of bodily organ or part; or
(4) a situation that resulted from an accident, injury, acute illness, unconsciousness, or shock, for example, required oxygen or other emergency treatment, required the patient to remain immobile because of a fracture, stroke, heart attack, or severe hemorrhage.
(v) 'Nonemergency transport' means services and transportation provided to a patient whose condition is considered stable. A stable patient is one whose condition reasonably can be expected to remain the same throughout the transport and for whom none of the criteria for emergency transport has been met. Prearranged transports scheduled at the convenience of the service or medical facility will be classified as a nonemergency transport.
(w) 'Moral turpitude' means behavior that is not in conformity with and is considered deviant by societal standards.
(x) 'Condition requiring an emergency response' means the sudden onset of a medical condition manifested by symptoms of such sufficient severity, including severe pain, that a prudent layperson who possesses an average knowledge of health and medicine could reasonably expect without medical attention, to result in:
(1) serious illness or disability;
(2) impairment of a bodily function;
(3) dysfunction of the body; or
(4) prolonged pain, psychiatric disturbance, or symptoms of withdrawal.
(y) 'Revocation' means that the department has permanently voided a license, permit, or certificate and the holder no longer may perform the function associated with the license, permit, or certificate. The department will not reissue the license, permit, or certificate for a period of two years for a license or permit and three years for a certificate. At the end of this period, the holder may petition for reinstatement.
(z) 'Suspension' means that the department has temporarily voided a license, permit, or certificate and the holder may not perform the function associated with the license, permit, or certificate until the holder has complied with the statutory requirements and other conditions imposed by the department.
(1) 'Ambulance' means a vehicle maintained or operated by a licensed provider who has obtained the necessary permits and licenses for the transportation of persons who are sick, injured, wounded, or otherwise incapacitated.
(2) 'Attendant' means a trained and qualified individual responsible for the operation of an ambulance and the care of the patients, regardless of whether the attendant also serves as driver.
(3) 'Attendant-driver' means a person who is qualified as an attendant and a driver.
(4) 'Authorized agent' means an individual designated to represent the department.
(5) 'Board' means the governing body of the Department of Health and Environmental Control or its designated representative.
(6) 'Certificate' means official acknowledgment by the department that an individual has completed successfully one of the appropriate emergency medical technician training courses referred to in this article in addition to completing successfully the requisite examinations, which entitles that individual to perform the functions and duties as delineated by the classification for which the certificate was issued.
(7) 'Condition requiring an emergency response' means the sudden onset of a medical condition manifested by symptoms of sufficient severity, including severe pain, that a prudent layperson who possesses an average knowledge of health and medicine could reasonably expect without medical attention, to result in:
(a) serious illness or disability;
(b) impairment of a bodily function;
(c) dysfunction of the body; or
(d) prolonged pain, psychiatric disturbance, or symptoms of withdrawal.
(8) 'Department' means the administrative agency known as the Department of Health and Environmental Control.
(9) 'Driver' means an individual who drives or otherwise operates an ambulance.
(10) 'Emergency medical responder agency' means a licensed agency providing medical care at the EMT level or above, as a nontransporting emergency medical responder.
(11) 'Emergency medical service system' means the arrangement of personnel, facilities, and equipment for the delivery of emergency health care services.
(12) 'Emergency medical technician' or 'EMT', when used in general terms for emergency medical personnel, means an individual possessing a valid EMT, advanced EMT (AEMT), or paramedic certificate issued by the State pursuant to the provisions of this article.
(13) 'Emergency transport' means services and transportation provided after the sudden onset of a medical condition manifesting itself by acute symptoms of such severity, including severe pain, that the absence of medical attention could reasonably be expected to result in the following:
(a) placing the patient's health in serious jeopardy;
(b) causing serious impairment to bodily functions;
(c) causing serious dysfunction of bodily organ or part; or
(d) a situation, including, but not limited to, an accident, injury, acute illness, unconsciousness, or shock, requiring oxygen or other emergency treatment or requiring the patient to remain immobile because of a fracture, stroke, heart attack, or severe hemorrhage.
(14) 'In-service training' means a course of training approved by the department that is conducted by the licensed provider for his personnel at his prime location.
(15) 'License' means an authorization to a person, firm, corporation, or governmental division or agency to provide emergency medical services in this State.
(16) 'Licensee' means a person, firm, corporation, or governmental division or agency possessing authorization, licensure, or certification to provide emergency medical services in this State.
(17) 'Moral turpitude' means behavior that is not in conformity with and is considered deviant by societal standards.
(18) 'National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians Registration' is given to an individual who has completed successfully the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians examination and its requirements.
(19) 'Nonemergency transport' means services and transportation provided to a patient whose condition is considered stable. A stable patient is one whose condition reasonably can be expected to remain the same throughout the transport and for whom none of the criteria for emergency transport has been met. Prearranged transports scheduled at the convenience of the service or medical facility must be classified as a nonemergency transport.
(20) 'Nonemergency Transport Service' means an ambulance service that provides for routine transportation of patients that require medical monitoring in a nonemergency setting including, but not limited to, prearranged transports.
(21) 'Operator' means an individual, firm, partnership, association, corporation, company, group, or individuals acting together for a common purpose or organization of any kind, including any governmental agency other than the United States.
(22) 'Patient' means an individual who is sick, injured, wounded, or otherwise incapacitated or helpless.
(23) 'Permit' means an authorization issued for an ambulance that meets the standards adopted pursuant to this article.
(24) 'Revocation' means an action taken by the department that permanently voids a license or certificate and that prohibits the holder from performing the function associated with the license or certificate. The department must not reissue a license for a period of two years and four years for a certificate. At the end of this period, the holder may petition for reinstatement.
(25) 'Standards' means the required measurable components of an emergency medical service system having permanent and recognized value that provide adequate emergency health care delivery.
(26) 'Suspension' means an action taken by the department that temporarily voids a license, permit, or certificate and that prohibits the holder from performing the function associated with the license, permit, or certificate until the holder has complied with the statutory requirements and other conditions imposed by the department.
Section 44-61-30. (a)(A) The Department of Health and Environmental Control, with the advice of the Emergency Medical Services Advisory Council and the State Medical Control Physician, shall develop standards and prescribe regulations for the improvement of emergency medical services (hereinafter referred to as EMS) in the State. All administrative responsibility for this program is vested in the department.
(b)(B) The EMS program shall must include:
(1) the regulation regulating and licensing of public, private, volunteer, or other type ambulance services; however, in developing these programs for regulating and licensing ambulance services, the programs must be formulated in such a manner so as not to restrict or restrain competition;
(2) inspection and issuance of inspecting and issuing permits for ambulance vehicles;
(3) the licensing of EMT first emergency medical responder agencies;
(4) training and certification of certifying EMS personnel;
(5) development, adoption, and implementation of developing, adopting, and implementing EMS standards and state plan;
(6) the development and coordination of developing and coordinating an EMS communications system; and
(7) designation of designating trauma centers and the categorization of categorizing hospital emergency departments; and
(8) establishing an electronic patient care reporting system to provide data to the National EMS Information System database for betterment of EMS across the nation.
(c)(C) An There is established the Emergency Medical Services Advisory Council must be established composed of representatives of the Department of Health and Environmental Control, the South Carolina Medical Association, the South Carolina Committee on Trauma Advisory Council, the South Carolina Hospital Association, the South Carolina Heart Association, Medical University of South Carolina, University of South Carolina School of Medicine, South Carolina College of Emergency Physicians, South Carolina Emergency Nurses Association, Emergency Management Division of the Office of the Adjutant General, South Carolina Emergency Medical Services Association, Rural EMS Coalition, State Board for Technical and Comprehensive Education, Governor's Office of Highway Safety, Department of Health and Human Services, four regional emergency medical services councils, an emergency physician licensed in this State, a pediatrician licensed in this State, an emergency room nurse, a paramedic practicing under a certification issued by this State, the State Medical Control Physician, and one EMT first emergency medical responder agency. Membership on the council must be by appointment by the board The director of the department shall appoint the members of the council. Three members One member of the advisory council must be members a member of an organized rescue squads squad operating in this State, three members one member shall represent the private emergency services systems system, and three members one member shall represent the county emergency medical services systems system.
(D) The department shall contract with a physician to serve as the State Medical Control Physician to oversee all medical aspects of the EMS Program. This physician must reside in and be licensed to practice medicine in this State. Duties of the State Medical Control Physician include, but are not limited to:
(1) developing protocol;
(2) establishing the scope of practice for EMTs at all levels;
(3) recommending disciplinary actions in cases involving inappropriate patient care; and
(4) serving as Chairman of the State Medical Control Committee.
Section 44-61-35. (A) In order to facilitate the proper administration of the Emergency Medical Services Program, the department shall charge fees for the various services and functions it performs including, but not limited to, license fees, ambulance permit fees, and emergency medical technician certification fees.
(B) No license, permit, or certification may be issued until all fees are paid in full.
(C) The department shall promulgate regulations in accordance with the Administrative Procedures Act to set levels of fees as authorized by this article.
(D) All fees and monetary penalties collected must be remitted to the Department of Health and Environmental Control and deposited in a separate and distinct account to be used solely to carry out and enforce the provisions of this chapter.
Section 44-61-40. (a)(A) A person, firm, corporation, association, county, district, municipality, or metropolitan government or agency, either as owner, agent, or otherwise, may not furnish, operate, conduct, maintain, advertise, or otherwise engage in or profess to engage in the business or service of providing EMT first emergency medical response or ambulance service, or both, without obtaining a valid license and or ambulance permit, or both, issued by the department. Failure to furnish, operate, conduct, maintain, advertise, or otherwise engage in or profess to engage in the business or service of providing emergency medical response or ambulance service without the proper license or permit, or both, from the department results in a Class I civil penalty, as defined in Regulation 61-7, Emergency Medical Services.
(b)(B) Applicants An applicant shall file a license applications application with the appropriate official of the department having authority over emergency services. At a minimum, license applications shall must contain evidence of ability to conform to the standards and regulations established by the board and such other information as may be required by the department. If the application is approved, the department shall issue the license will be issued. If the application is disapproved, the applicant may appeal in a manner pursuant to the Administrative Procedures Act beginning at, Section 1-23-310 et seq.
(c)(C) Applicants shall renew licenses and permits every two years. An applicant shall retain a medical control physician to maintain quality control of the patient care provided by the applicant's service. No medical control physician acting in good faith who participates in the review or evaluation of the services provided by the applicant to help improve the quality of patient care is liable for any civil damages as a result of any act or omission by the physician in the course of a review or evaluation.
(D) An applicant shall renew his or her license or permit every two years.
Section 44-61-50. A vehicle must not be operated as an ambulance, unless its licensed owner applies for and receives an ambulance permit issued by the department for that vehicle. Prior to Before issuing an original permit for an ambulance, the vehicle for which the permit is issued shall must meet all requirements as to vehicle design, construction, staffing, medical and communication equipment and supplies, and sanitation as set forth in this article or in the standards and regulations established promulgated by the board. Absent revocation or suspension permits issued for ambulances are valid for a period not to exceed two years.
Section 44-61-60. (a)(A) Such equipment as deemed necessary by The department must be required of organizations shall require an organization applying for an ambulance permits permit to maintain certain equipment in the ambulance that the department considers necessary. Each licensee of an ambulance shall comply with regulations as may be promulgated by the board and shall maintain in each ambulance, when it is in use as such an ambulance, all equipment as may be prescribed by the board.
(b)(B) The transportation of patients and the provision of emergency medical services shall must conform to standards adopted by the board.
Section 44-61-65. Organizations An organization applying for first emergency medical responder licensure must comply with equipment, training, and certification standards and other requirements promulgated by the department in regulation.
Section 44-61-70. (a)(A) The department may enforce rules, regulations, and standards promulgated and set pursuant to this article. An enforcement action taken by the department may be appealed pursuant to the Administrative Procedures Act beginning with, Section 1-23-310 et seq.
(b)(B) Grounds for an enforcement action against an authorization, license, or permit exist for violation of a rule or regulation promulgated pursuant to this article. The department may suspend a license pending an investigation of an alleged violation or complaint. The department may impose a civil monetary penalty up to five hundred dollars per for each offense per each day to a maximum of ten thousand dollars and revoke or suspend the provider's license or permit if the department finds that a service has:
(1) allowed uncertified personnel to perform patient care;
(2) falsified required forms or paperwork as required by the department;
(3) failed to maintain required equipment as evidenced by past compliance history;
(4) failed to maintain a medical control physician;
(5) failed to maintain equipment in working order; or
(6) failed to respond to a call within the response area of the service without providing for response by an alternate service.
(c)(C) Whoever A person who hinders, obstructs, or interferes with a duly an authorized agent of the department while in the performance of his duties or who violates a provision of this article or rule or a regulation of the board promulgated pursuant to this article is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be punished by a fine of fined not less than five hundred dollars and not more than five thousand dollars or by imprisonment for imprisoned not less than ten days nor or more than six months for each offense. Information pertaining to the license or permit is admissible in evidence in all prosecutions under this article if it is consistent with applicable statutory provisions.
(d)(D) If a permitted ambulance or licensed first emergency medical responder service fails inspection or loses points upon initial inspection, a civil monetary penalty must not be levied. Instead, a copy of the inspection report will must be given to the service indicating deficiencies found and a request for a letter of compliance and a time period by within which to correct the deficiencies will must be issued. Upon reinspection, any deficiencies found will must be assigned a point value and a fine must be imposed pursuant to the fine schedule provided for in Regulation 61-7 or the permit will must be revoked, or both. The fine schedule is found in Regulation 61-7.
Section 44-61-80. (a)(A) All An ambulance attendants attendant shall obtain a valid emergency medical technician certificate unless an exception is granted pursuant to regulations promulgated by the department. A person who provides patient care that is within the scope of an emergency medical technician without obtaining proper certification from the department must be sanctioned in accordance with a Class I civil penalty as defined in Regulation 61-7 unless an exception was granted as provided for in this subsection.
(b)(B) The department shall develop and approve curricula educational standards for the necessary classification of emergency medical technicians and approve the training program for the necessary classifications of emergency medical technicians.
(c)(C) A person seeking EMT certification must shall pass the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians examination for the level of certification desired and meet other requirements established by the department. The department will shall make a determination of the applicant's qualifications and, if appropriate, issue a certificate to the applicant.
(d)(D) A person seeking EMT certification or recertification must undergo a state criminal records check, supported by fingerprints, by the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED), and a national criminal records check, supported by fingerprints, by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). The results of these criminal records checks must be reported to the department. SLED is authorized to retain the fingerprints for certification purposes and for notification of the department regarding criminal charges. The cost of the state criminal records check must not exceed eight dollars and must be paid to the department by the EMT or the EMS agency upon application for the state check. The cost of the national records check is must be established by the FBI and must be paid to the department by the EMT or the EMS agency upon application for the national check. The state and national criminal records checks are not required for an EMT employed as of July 1, 2008, until the EMT applies for recertification. The department may deny certification to applicants with certain past felony convictions and to those who are under felony indictment. In all cases, the department shall deny applications for certification of individuals convicted of or under indictment for the following crimes will be denied in all cases:
(1) felonies involving criminal sexual conduct;
(2) felonies involving the physical or sexual abuse of children, the elderly, or the infirm including, but not limited to, criminal sexual misconduct with a child conduct with a minor, making or distributing child pornography or using a child in a sexual display, incest involving a child, or assault on a vulnerable adult;
(3) a crime in which the victim is a patient or resident of a health care facility, including abuse, neglect, theft from, or financial exploitation of a person entrusted to the care or protection of the applicant.
Applications from individuals convicted of, or under indictment for, other offenses not listed above will in this subsection must be reviewed by the department on a case by case basis.
(e)(E) EMT certification is valid for a period not exceeding three years from the date of issuance and must be renewed by undergoing a state and national criminal records check as provided for in subsection (d)(D) and completing a refresher course and examination during the three-year certification period as required by the department and provided for by this article. 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 three attempts will require completion of another refresher course and reexamination. The curriculum for in-service training programs required in this subsection must 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 licensed 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 also may 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, but all others are required to take the prescribed written exam before renewal. Those who are nationally registered may exempt the state practical and written exam upon submission of appropriate documentation providing documentation to the department of current national registration for the appropriate level of certification and any other credential as required by the department. The national registry credential must be renewed in accordance with National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians policies and procedures. An individual who was certified in this State before October 2006, and has continuously maintained certification, may continue to renew certification without a national registry credential if the individual has successfully completed all other requirements as established by the department.
(f)(F) The department may take enforcement action against the holder of a certificate at any time it is determined the department determines that the holder no longer meets the prescribed qualifications set forth by the department or has failed to provide to patients emergency medical treatment of a quality deemed acceptable by to the department or is guilty of has engaged in misconduct as outlined by the rules and provided for in regulations. Misconduct means that, while holding a certificate, the holder promulgated by the department or has:
(1) used a false, fraudulent, or forged statement or document or practiced a fraudulent, deceitful, or dishonest act in connection with the certification requirements or official documents required by the department;
(2) was been convicted of or currently under indictment for a felony or another crime involving moral turpitude, drugs, or gross immorality;
(3) was been addicted to alcohol or drugs to such a degree as to render him the holder unfit to perform as an EMT;
(4) sustained a mental or physical disability that renders further practice by him dangerous to the public;
(5) obtained fees or assisted another in obtaining fees under dishonorable, false, or fraudulent circumstances;
(6) disregarded an appropriate order by a physician concerning emergency treatment or transportation;
(7) at the scene of an accident or illness, refused to administer emergency care based on the age, sex, race, religion, creed, or national origin of the patient;
(8) after initiating care of a patient at the scene of an accident or illness, discontinued care or abandoned the patient without the patient's consent or without providing for the further administration of care by an equal or higher medical authority;
(9) revealed confidences entrusted to him in the course of medical attendance, unless this revelation was required by law or is necessary in order to protect the welfare of the individual or the community;
(10) by action or omission and without mitigating circumstance, contributed to or furthered the injury or illness of a patient under his care;
(11) was been careless, reckless, or irresponsible in the operation of an emergency vehicle;
(12) performed skills above the level for which he the holder was certified or performed skills that he the holder was not trained to do perform;
(13) observed the administration of substandard care by another EMT or other medical provider without documenting the event and notifying a supervisor;
(14) by his actions or inactions, created a substantial possibility that death or serious physical harm could result;
(15) did not take taken or complete completed remedial training or other courses of action as directed by the department as a result of an investigation or inquiry;
(16) was been found to be guilty of the falsification of documentation as required by the department;
(17) breached a section of the Emergency Medical Services Act of South Carolina provision of this article, or a subsequent amendment of the act or any rules or regulations published or a regulation promulgated pursuant to the act this article.
The department is further authorized to suspend a certificate pending the investigation of any a complaint or allegation regarding the commission of an offense including, but not limited to, those listed above enumerated in this subsection.
(g)(G) All instructors An instructor of an emergency medical technician training courses course must be certified by the department pursuant to requirements established by the board; and all such these training courses shall must be supervised by certified instructors.
Section 44-61-90. Each licensee shall maintain records that include approved patient care report forms, employee/member employee or member rosters, or both, and training records. These records must be available for inspection by the department at any reasonable time and copies must be furnished to the department upon request.
Section 44-61-100. The following are exempted from the provisions of this article:
(a)(1) ambulances owned and operated by the federal government;
(b)(2) a vehicle or vehicles, including associated personnel, rendering assistance to community ambulances in the case of a catastrophe when licensed ambulances in the locality are insufficient to render the required services;
(c)(3) the use of a privately or publicly owned vehicle vehicles, not ordinarily utilized in the transportation of persons who are sick, injured, or otherwise incapacitated and, operating pursuant to Section 15-1-310 (Good Samaritan Act) in the prevention of loss of life and alleviation of suffering;
(d)(4) the use of out-of-state ambulance services and personnel to assist assisting with treatment and transport of patients during a disaster or catastrophe when licensed services in the locality are insufficient to render the required services.
Section 44-61-105. The governing body of any county may exempt, by ordinance, any ambulances used primarily as convalescent transport units from the size provisions of this article or a regulation relating to size requirements promulgated pursuant to this article.
Any vehicle which does not meet the size requirements named in federal specification KKK-A-1822 may be used as a convalescent transport unit provided it meets the following requirements:
1. There shall be no restrictions concerning the painted color of convalescent transport units.
2. No emblems or markings detailed in Section 501 of Regulation 61-7 of the department may be employed by convalescent transport units, except that the name of the operating company or organization shall be allowed on the vehicle.
3.(a) The minimum inside length from the back of the driver's seat to the closed rear door of the vehicle is one hundred eight inches.
(b) The minimum inside width is sixty-six inches from window to window.
(c) The minimum inside height from floor to ceiling is fifty-two inches.
4.(a) Rear doors shall swing clear of the opening to permit full access to the patient compartment.
(b) All patient compartment doors shall incorporate a holding device to prevent the door closing unintentionally from wind or vibration. When doors are open the holding device shall not protrude into the access area.
(c) The spare tire shall be secured and stored in such a position that it may be removed without disturbing the patient.
5.(a) Lighting must be available for both the driver and an attendant, if riding in the driving compartment, to read maps, records, etc. There must be shielding of the driver's area from the lights in the patient compartment.
(b) Illumination must be sufficient throughout the compartment for adequate observation of vital signs, such as skin color and pupillary reflex, and for care in transit. Controls will be located in the patient compartment.
6.(a) There shall be at least one flood light mounted above the rear door of the vehicle.
(b) Convalescent transport units are prohibited from using emergency lights. Yellow warning lights may be installed, however, with use limited to emergencies that may develop while transporting convalescent patients.
7. All safety factors for the patient compartment detailed in Section 501 of Regulation 61-7 of the department shall be employed by convalescent transport.
8. All environmental equipment and specifications detailed in Section 501 of Regulation 61-7 of the department shall be employed by convalescent transport units with the exception that there need not be separate heating and air conditioning controls in the patient compartment unless a bulkhead or other physical boundary prevents adequate circulation.
9. A spare wheel with appropriate size, inflated, mounted tire shall be provided in addition to a jack and wheel lug wrench.
10. Convalescent transport units shall have storage cabinets of sufficient size and configuration to store all required equipment. All equipment must be accessible to the attendant at all times.
11. All convalescent transport units are prohibited the use of any siren or public address system.
12. All windows, windshield, and door glass must be shatterproof.
13. Convalescent transport units must be equipped with the minimum ambulance medical equipment detailed in Section 601 of Regulation 61-7 of the department.
14. There must be at least one certified Emergency Medical Technician in the patient compartment each time a patient is transported.
Nothing in this section shall be interpreted as prohibiting those ambulances meeting the requirements of federal specification KKK-1822 from operating as both convalescent and emergency vehicles.
Section 44-61-110. No financial grants or funds administered by the State for emergency medical services pertinent to this article shall may be made available to counties or municipalities not in compliance with the provisions of this article.
Section 44-61-120. The department shall develop a comprehensive statewide emergency medical services plan to implement and ensure the delivery of adequate emergency medical services to every citizen. This plan must include guidelines for basic, intermediate, and paramedic emergency medical technicians at all levels for the administration of epinephrine to a person suffering or believed to be suffering from anaphylaxis.
Section 44-61-130. A certified emergency medical technician may perform any function consistent with his the EMT's certification, according to guidelines and regulations that the board may prescribe. An emergency medical technicians, technician trained to provide advanced life support and possessing current Department of Health and Environmental Control certification while on duty with a licensed service, are is authorized to possess limited quantities of drugs, including controlled substances, as may be approved by the Department of Health and Environmental Control for administration to patients during the regular course of duties of duty as an emergency medical technicians technician, pursuant to the written or verbal order of a physician possessing a valid license to practice medicine in this State;. However, the physician must be registered pursuant to state and federal laws pertaining to controlled substances.
Section 44-61-140. This article must not be construed as limiting presently operating rescue units from utilizing their existing equipment and performing the functions they are now allowed to do so long as they do not conflict with licensed agencies contained in subsection (a) of Section 44-61-40(A).
Section 44-61-150. All rules and Regulations must be promulgated by the board shall be filed with the Secretary of State department in accordance with the Administrative Procedures Act.
Section 44-61-160. (a)(A) The identities of patients, emergency, and critical care medical services personnel, and emergency and critical care medical services mentioned, referenced, or otherwise appearing in information and data collected or prepared by or in connection with emergency medical services must be treated as strictly confidential. The identities of these persons or entities are not available to the public under the Freedom of Information Act nor are; they are not subject to subpoena in any administrative, civil, or criminal proceeding,; and they are not otherwise available except pursuant to court order. An individual's individual in attendance at a proceeding must not be required to testify as to the identity of a person or entity except pursuant to court order. A person, medical facility, or other organization providing or releasing information in accordance with this article must not be held liable in a civil or criminal action for divulging confidential information unless the individual or organization acted in bad faith or with malicious purpose.
(b)(B) The identity of a patient, physician, or hospital is confidential and must not be released except that the identity of a patient may be released upon written consent of the patient or the patient's legal representative; the identity of a physician may be released upon written consent of the physician; and the identity of a hospital may be released upon written consent of the hospital.
(c)(C) The contents, with the exception of sanctions, of an official investigation or inquiry conducted by the Division of Emergency Medical Services Section and Trauma within the Department of Health and Environmental Control must be treated as are confidential and only may be released in a legal proceeding involving the question of licensing, certification, or revocation of a license or certificate. The proceedings, records, and information acquired or produced by the emergency practices review committee is confidential pursuant to Section 40-71-20. The emergency practices
(D) An investigative review committee is established as a professional committee that reviews the to review information on official investigations into of the actions of a certified EMT at any level or a licensed emergency medical service and makes disciplinary action recommendations for consideration by the department. The proceedings, records, and information acquired or produced by the investigative review committee is confidential pursuant to Section 40-71-20.
(E) Sanctions taken by the department against the holder of a certificate or license as a result of a formal investigation may be released to certain individuals and entities as specified in Regulation 61-7. Information surrounding the circumstances for which an action was taken must not be released.
(d)(F) Information must not be released except to:
(1) appropriate staff of the Division of Emergency Medical Services Section and Trauma within the Department of Health and Environmental Control, South Carolina Data Oversight Council, and State Budget and Control Board, Office of Research and Statistics;
(2) submitting hospitals or their designees;
(3) a person engaged in an approved research project, except that information identifying a subject of a report or a reporter must not be made available to a researcher unless consent is obtained pursuant to this section.
(e)(G) For purposes of maintaining the data base database collected pursuant to this article, the department and the Office of Research and Statistics may access and provide access to appropriate confidential data reported in accordance with Section 44-61-160.
(f)(H) A person subject to this article who intentionally fails to comply with reporting, confidentiality, or disclosure requirements of this article is subject to a civil penalty of not more than one hundred dollars for a violation the first time a person fails to comply violation and not more than five thousand dollars for a subsequent violation.
(g)(I) This section supersedes any other provision of law, with the exception of federal law, which may be contrary to requirements set forth in this section."
SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.
This web page was last updated on Monday, October 10, 2011 at 12:21 P.M.