PRIOR PRINTER'S NO. 1074 PRINTER'S NO. 2921
No. 962 Session of 1991
INTRODUCED BY McNALLY, WOGAN, KRUSZEWSKI, KENNEY, JAROLIN, VAN
HORNE, FAJT, DEMPSEY, PETRONE, GIGLIOTTI, ROBINSON, BISHOP,
KOSINSKI, OLASZ, KAISER, BELFANTI, O'BRIEN, MAIALE, HUGHES,
PERZEL, VEON, McGEEHAN, DONATUCCI, KING, ARMSTRONG AND BROWN,
APRIL 2, 1991
AS REPORTED FROM COMMITTEE ON HEALTH AND WELFARE, HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES, AS AMENDED, JANUARY 7, 1992
AN ACT
1 Providing for professional paramedic standards; implementing
2 procedures for insuring competency; providing programs for
3 continuing medical education; providing for certification and
4 recertification; creating an advisory committee in the
5 Department of Health; providing for competency-based
6 assessment; and making repeals.
7 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
8 hereby enacts as follows:
9 Section 1. Short title. <--
10 This act shall be known and may be cited as the Professional
11 Paramedic Standards Act.
12 Section 2. Definitions.
13 The following words and phrases when used in this act shall
14 have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
15 context clearly indicates otherwise:
16 "Active status." A paramedic with medical command, actively
17 practicing and functioning as a paramedic.
1 "Competency-based assessment." Evaluation of the mechanical,
2 technical, practical and assessment standards of skill, ability
3 and knowledge required by United States Department of
4 Transportation Emergency Medical Technician Paramedic National
5 Standards Curriculum and department regulations.
6 "Department." The Department of Health of the Commonwealth.
7 "Diagnosis." Recognizing emergencies, either medical or
8 trauma, through knowledge of signs and symptoms.
9 "Division." The Division of Emergency Medical Services in
10 the Department of Health.
11 "Medical command." Any voice order or medical protocol given
12 to a paramedic by an authorized medical command physician.
13 "Medical command facility medical director." A physician
14 responsible for the medical direction and control of medical
15 command physicians at an accredited medical command facility.
16 "Medical command physician." A licensed physician approved
17 by the Department of Health to oversee and supervise
18 implementation of approved medical protocols, interventions and
19 practice of paramedic procedures.
20 "Medical protocols." Written prescribed emergency medical
21 procedures approved by the Department of Health.
22 "Orders." Direct verbal or telephonic medical instructions
23 supervised and implemented by a medical command physician.
24 "Paramedic." An emergency medical technician trained to
25 provide advanced life support services in accordance with United
26 States Department of Transportation Emergency Medical Technician
27 Paramedic National Standards Curriculum and department
28 regulations.
29 "Practice of professional paramedicine." The services
30 performed in responding to the perceived needs of an individual
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1 for immediate medical care in order to prevent loss of life or
2 aggravation of physiological or psychological illness or injury,
3 delivered in a prehospital, interhospital or hospital emergency
4 care setting.
5 "Treatment." The management of recognized emergencies
6 through selection and performance of measures, protocols and
7 execution of procedures prescribed by a medical command
8 physician.
9 Section 3. Certification; recertification; active status;
10 inactive status; military status.
11 (a) Paramedic certification.--Paramedics shall be certified
12 for a period of three years by the department in accordance with
13 United States Department of Transportation Emergency Medical
14 Technician Paramedic National Standards Curriculum and
15 department regulations.
16 (b) Recertification.--
17 (1) Paramedics shall be recertified on active status by
18 the department upon receipt of a competency-based assessment
19 statement verified by an approved medical command facility
20 medical director. Active status recertification shall be
21 valid for a period of three years.
22 (2) Any paramedic certified under this act who fails to
23 satisfy the requirements for active status recertification
24 shall be automatically and involuntarily placed on inactive
25 status. Any paramedic certified under this act may request
26 application for inactive status. Application for inactive
27 status shall be completed and returned to the department.
28 Upon receipt of each application, the applicant shall be
29 maintained on inactive status indefinitely and shall be
30 entitled to apply for reactivation to active status at any
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1 time. Any paramedic who requests active status who has been
2 in inactive status for a period of more than six months
3 shall, prior to receiving active status, be issued a
4 temporary practice permit pending competency-based assessment
5 approval.
6 (3) Any paramedic certified under this act who is called
7 to active military service shall retain their certification
8 unexpired during the period within which they are on active
9 military service.
10 (c) Temporary recertification.--A paramedic may be granted
11 temporary recertification for a period not exceeding six months
12 pending completion of competency-based assessment requirements
13 at the discretion of an approved medical command physician.
14 Section 4. Competency-based assessment.
15 (a) Approval.--Paramedic recertification, temporary
16 recertification or reciprocity shall be accompanied by a
17 competency-based assessment statement from an approved medical
18 command physician. Competency-based assessment shall include
19 verification of not less than 24 nor more than 32 hours per year
20 of accredited continuing medical education. When, upon request,
21 a medical command physician does not approve a competency-based
22 assessment statement, he shall submit written documentation to
23 the department outlining the reasons for refusing to issue a
24 statement.
25 (b) Continuing medical education.--The department shall
26 establish and maintain procedures for evaluating and approving
27 continuing medical education programs utilized as criteria for
28 competency-based assessment.
29 (c) Appeal.--Any applicant who does not receive a
30 competency-based assessment statement may appeal to the
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1 department for a competency evaluation hearing. Upon receipt of
2 an appeal for a competency evaluation hearing, the department
3 shall grant a certification expiration extension until the
4 appeal is resolved.
5 (d) Hearings.--All competency-based assessment evaluation
6 hearings shall be initiated within 60 days of the request and
7 resolved within 120 days. Witnesses as may be deemed necessary
8 to a resolution shall be allowed to testify, either in person,
9 by deposition or by affidavit.
10 (e) Disposition.--Upon conclusion of the hearing, the
11 department shall issue a certificate of renewal or a temporary
12 certificate or refuse to issue a certificate.
13 Section 5. Reciprocity; temporary practice permits.
14 (a) Reciprocity.--In order to obtain reciprocity to practice
15 and engage in professional paramedicine for a one-year period, a
16 person who holds a current and valid license or certification
17 issued by any other state, territory or possession of the United
18 States or the Dominion of Canada, and who presents to the
19 department a competency-based assessment or its equivalent from
20 their most recent practice, may be issued by the department a
21 temporary practice permit which is nonrenewable and valid for a
22 period of one year, and during such additional period as the
23 department may in each case especially permit. The temporary
24 practice permit shall expire if the person fails to meet the
25 standards and requirements for certification provided for in
26 section 3. Persons issued a temporary practice permit may be
27 granted inactive status by the department, and shall be governed
28 by the inactive status procedure when applying for active
29 status. Persons issued a temporary practice permit under this
30 subsection shall be required to be accompanied by an approved
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1 active status paramedic.
2 (b) Temporary practice permit.--
3 (1) In order for a paramedic to practice and engage in
4 professional paramedicine for the one-year period from the
5 completion of their education program, the department may
6 issue a temporary practice permit, upon presenting to the
7 department verification of course completion and a statement
8 of competency-based assessment from an approved service
9 medical director where the paramedic intends to practice.
10 This permit shall be nonrenewable and valid for a period of
11 one year, and during such additional period as the department
12 may in each case especially permit, except that the permit
13 shall expire and terminate if such person fails to meet the
14 standards of the certification examination. Holders of
15 temporary practice permits must be accompanied by an approved
16 active status paramedic until such time as they pass the
17 certification examination and obtain active medical command
18 status; or the permit expires or is terminated.
19 (2) A temporary practice permit shall also be issued by
20 the department to any paramedic who requests to return to
21 active status from inactive status. The permit shall remain
22 valid for a period of one year, or until medical command is
23 received from an approved service or medical director. Any
24 paramedic not receiving medical command shall revert back to
25 inactive status. Holders of temporary practice permits,
26 pending medical command, must be accompanied by an approved
27 active status paramedic.
28 Section 6. Paramedic Advisory Committee.
29 (a) Advisory committee.--An advisory committee in the
30 Department of Health shall be appointed by the Secretary of
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1 Health to formulate policy concerning professional paramedic
2 standards and continuing medical education programs and
3 subjects.
4 (b) Committee members.--The committee shall consist of the
5 Director of Paramedic Affairs, one licensed physician of
6 emergency medicine recommended by the American College of
7 Emergency Physicians of Pennsylvania and five certified
8 paramedics, all of whom shall be actively practicing paramedics
9 in Pennsylvania for five years immediately preceding their
10 appointment, and recommended by the Pennsylvania Paramedic
11 Association.
12 (c) Director of Paramedic Affairs.--The department shall
13 select and appoint a full-time Director of Paramedic Affairs,
14 who shall be a certified and an actively practicing paramedic in
15 this Commonwealth.
16 (d) Terms.--The term of a committee member shall be three
17 years or until a successor has been qualified and appointed, but
18 not longer than six months beyond the three-year term. No member
19 shall be eligible for appointment to serve more than two
20 consecutive terms. In the event that a member dies, resigns or
21 otherwise becomes disqualified during the member's term, the
22 member's successor shall be appointed in the same way and with
23 the same qualifications and shall hold office for the unexpired
24 term.
25 (e) Quorum.--A majority of the members of the committee
26 shall constitute a quorum. A committee member may not be counted
27 as part of a quorum or vote on any recommendation unless the
28 member is physically in attendance at the meeting. A majority
29 vote is necessary to make official committee recommendations to
30 the Secretary of Health. The committee shall select a
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1 chairperson annually from among its five appointed paramedic
2 members.
3 (f) Expenses.--Each member of the committee, when actually
4 attending to the work of the committee, shall receive the amount
5 of reasonable traveling, hotel or motel and other necessary
6 expenses incurred in the performance of the duties as a
7 committee member.
8 (g) Attendance.--A member of the committee who fails to
9 attend three consecutive meetings shall forfeit their seat
10 unless the committee chairperson upon written request from the
11 member finds that the member is excused from a meeting or
12 meetings because of illness or death of a family member.
13 (h) Educational advisors.--The department shall select and
14 appoint one or more full-time educational advisors and one or
15 more full-time practice advisors, all of whom shall be licensed
16 and actively practicing paramedics and who shall serve in
17 addition to the Paramedic Advisory Committee members but not as
18 committee members.
19 Section 7. Certified paramedic; use of title.
20 Any person who holds a professional paramedic certificate in
21 this Commonwealth shall have the right to use the title
22 "Certified Paramedic" and the abbreviation "C.P.". No other
23 person shall engage in the practice of professional paramedicine
24 or use the title "Certified Paramedic" or the abbreviation
25 "C.P." to indicate that the person is a certified paramedic. No
26 person shall sell or fraudulently obtain or fraudulently furnish
27 any paramedic diploma, certification, record of registration or
28 aid or abet therein.
29 Section 8. Applicability.
30 (a) Retroactivity.--The provisions of section 3, relating to
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1 recertification, shall apply retroactively and be applicable to
2 all paramedics certified in Pennsylvania on the effective date
3 of this act.
4 (b) Expired certification.--Paramedics whose certification
5 expired after January 1, 1985, shall be eligible to apply for
6 inactive certification status in accordance with the provisions
7 of section 3(b)(2).
8 Section 9. Repeals.
9 All acts and parts of acts are repealed insofar as they are
10 inconsistent with this act.
11 Section 10. Effective date.
12 This act shall take effect in 60 days.
13 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. <--
14 THIS ACT SHALL BE KNOWN AND MAY BE CITED AS THE PROFESSIONAL
15 PARAMEDIC STANDARDS ACT.
16 SECTION 2. DEFINITIONS.
17 THE FOLLOWING WORDS AND PHRASES WHEN USED IN THIS ACT SHALL
18 HAVE THE MEANINGS GIVEN TO THEM IN THIS SECTION UNLESS THE
19 CONTEXT CLEARLY INDICATES OTHERWISE:
20 "ACTIVE STATUS." A PERSON WHO IS ACTIVELY PRACTICING AND
21 FUNCTIONING, AS DEFINED BY REGULATION, AS A PARAMEDIC, WHO HAS
22 CURRENT COMPETENCY-BASED ASSESSMENT VERIFICATION AND MEDICAL
23 COMMAND AUTHORIZATION FROM AN APPROVED ADVANCED LIFE SUPPORT
24 SERVICE MEDICAL DIRECTOR.
25 "ADVANCED LIFE SUPPORT" OR "A.L.S." THE ADVANCED PREHOSPITAL
26 AND INTERHOSPITAL EMERGENCY MEDICAL CARE OF SERIOUS ILLNESS OR
27 INJURY BY APPROPRIATELY TRAINED AND CERTIFIED PARAMEDICS.
28 "ADVANCED LIFE SUPPORT SERVICE MEDICAL DIRECTOR." A LICENSED
29 PHYSICIAN APPROVED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH WHO IS
30 RESPONSIBLE FOR THE MEDICAL DIRECTION AND CONTROL OF A
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1 DEPARTMENT-LICENSED ADVANCED LIFE SUPPORT EMERGENCY MEDICAL
2 SERVICE; AND WHO IS APPROVED TO OVERSEE AND SUPERVISE THE
3 PRACTICE OF PARAMEDIC PROCEDURES, VERIFY COMPETENCY-BASED
4 ASSESSMENT OF PARAMEDICS AND GRANT MEDICAL COMMAND AUTHORIZATION
5 TO PARAMEDICS.
6 "ASSOCIATION." THE PENNSYLVANIA PARAMEDIC ASSOCIATION, AN
7 INCORPORATED NONPROFIT PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATION WHICH
8 REPRESENTS PARAMEDICS IN THIS COMMONWEALTH.
9 "COMMITTEE." PARAMEDIC MEMBERS OF THE PENNSYLVANIA EMERGENCY
10 HEALTH SERVICES COUNCIL WHO SERVE IN AN ADVISORY CAPACITY ON
11 MATTERS CONCERNING PARAMEDIC STANDARDS AND CONTINUING EDUCATION
12 AND TRAINING PROGRAMS FOR PARAMEDICS.
13 "COMPETENCY-BASED ASSESSMENT." VERIFICATION, AS DEFINED BY
14 REGULATION, BY AN APPROVED ADVANCED LIFE SUPPORT SERVICE MEDICAL
15 DIRECTOR WHICH EVALUATES A PARAMEDIC'S MECHANICAL, TECHNICAL,
16 PRACTICAL AND ASSESSMENT STANDARDS OF SKILL, ABILITY AND
17 KNOWLEDGE REQUIRED BY THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF
18 TRANSPORTATION EMERGENCY MEDICAL TECHNICIAN PARAMEDIC NATIONAL
19 STANDARDS CURRICULUM AND DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH REGULATIONS; AND
20 WHICH VERIFIES THAT A PARAMEDIC IS IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE
21 CURRENT REQUIREMENTS FOR CONTINUING EDUCATION AND TRAINING; AND
22 THAT A PARAMEDIC IS ACTIVELY PRACTICING AND FUNCTIONING.
23 COMPETENCY-BASED ASSESSMENTS SHALL BE PROVIDED BY A PARAMEDICS
24 PRIMARY ADVANCED LIFE SUPPORT SERVICE.
25 "COUNCIL." THE STATE ADVISORY COUNCIL KNOWN AS THE BOARD OF
26 DIRECTORS OF THE PENNSYLVANIA EMERGENCY HEALTH SERVICES COUNCIL.
27 "DEPARTMENT." THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH OF THE COMMONWEALTH.
28 "DIAGNOSIS." RECOGNIZING EMERGENCIES, EITHER MEDICAL OR
29 TRAUMA, THROUGH THE KNOWLEDGE OF SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS.
30 "DIVISION." THE DIVISION OF EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES IN
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1 THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH.
2 "INACTIVE STATUS." A PARAMEDIC NOT REQUESTING OR RECEIVING
3 ACTIVE STATUS RECERTIFICATION.
4 "MEDICAL COMMAND." AN ORDER GIVEN TO A PROVIDER OF EMERGENCY
5 MEDICAL SERVICES BY AN AUTHORIZED MEDICAL COMMAND PHYSICIAN WHO
6 MEETS QUALIFICATIONS PRESCRIBED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH.
7 "MEDICAL COMMAND AUTHORIZATION." AUTHORIZATION GIVEN TO A
8 PARAMEDIC BY AN APPROVED ADVANCED LIFE SUPPORT SERVICE MEDICAL
9 DIRECTOR TO RECEIVE VOICE ORDERS FROM AN APPROVED MEDICAL
10 COMMAND PHYSICIAN OR CARRY OUT MEDICAL PROTOCOLS, UPON
11 VERIFICATION OF COMPETENCY-BASED ASSESSMENT.
12 "MEDICAL COMMAND FACILITY MEDICAL DIRECTOR." A PHYSICIAN
13 RESPONSIBLE FOR THE MEDICAL DIRECTION AND CONTROL OF MEDICAL
14 COMMAND PHYSICIANS AT AN ACCREDITED MEDICAL COMMAND FACILITY.
15 "MEDICAL COMMAND PHYSICIAN." A LICENSED PHYSICIAN APPROVED
16 BY THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH TO GIVE MEDICAL ORDERS AND TO
17 OVERSEE AND SUPERVISE IMPLEMENTATION OF APPROVED MEDICAL
18 PROTOCOLS, INTERVENTION AND THE PRACTICE OF PARAMEDIC
19 PROCEDURES.
20 "MEDICAL PROTOCOLS." WRITTEN PRESCRIBED EMERGENCY MEDICAL
21 PROCEDURES APPROVED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND THE DIVISION
22 OF EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES.
23 "ORDERS." DIRECT VERBAL OR TELEPHONIC MEDICAL INSTRUCTIONS
24 BY AN APPROVED MEDICAL COMMAND PHYSICIAN.
25 "PARAMEDIC." A PERSON TRAINED TO PROVIDE ADVANCED LIFE
26 SUPPORT SERVICES IN ACCORDANCE WITH UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF
27 TRANSPORTATION EMERGENCY MEDICAL TECHNICIAN PARAMEDIC NATIONAL
28 STANDARDS CURRICULUM AND DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH REGULATIONS, AND
29 WHO HOLDS A PROFESSIONAL PARAMEDIC CERTIFICATE IN THIS
30 COMMONWEALTH.
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1 "PRACTICE OF PROFESSIONAL PARAMEDICINE." THE SERVICES
2 PERFORMED IN RESPONDING TO THE PERCEIVED NEEDS OF AN INDIVIDUAL
3 FOR IMMEDIATE MEDICAL CARE IN ORDER TO PREVENT LOSS OF LIFE OR
4 AGGRAVATION OF PHYSIOLOGICAL OR PSYCHOLOGICAL ILLNESS OR INJURY,
5 DELIVERED IN A PREHOSPITAL, INTERHOSPITAL OR HOSPITAL EMERGENCY
6 CARE SETTING.
7 "REGIONAL COUNCIL." AN EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES COUNCIL
8 WITHIN A SPECIFIC GEOGRAPHICAL AREA OF THIS COMMONWEALTH.
9 "TEMPORARY PRACTICE PERMIT." AUTHORIZATION FOR A PARAMEDIC
10 TO ENGAGE IN AND PRACTICE PROFESSIONAL PARAMEDICINE FOR A ONE-
11 YEAR PERIOD FOR INTERNSHIP TRAINING, PENDING RECEIPT OF A
12 COMPETENCY-BASED ASSESSMENT VERIFICATION, MEDICAL COMMAND
13 AUTHORIZATION AND ACTIVE STATUS CERTIFICATION.
14 "TREATMENT." THE MANAGEMENT OF RECOGNIZED EMERGENCIES
15 THROUGH THE PERFORMANCE OF ORDERS OR THE SELECTION OF MEDICAL
16 PROTOCOLS.
17 SECTION 3. CERTIFICATION; RECERTIFICATION; ACTIVE STATUS;
18 INACTIVE STATUS; MILITARY STATUS.
19 (A) PARAMEDIC CERTIFICATION.--PARAMEDICS SHALL BE CERTIFIED
20 FOR A PERIOD OF THREE YEARS BY THE DEPARTMENT IN ACCORDANCE WITH
21 UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION EMERGENCY MEDICAL
22 TECHNICIAN PARAMEDIC NATIONAL STANDARDS CURRICULUM AND
23 DEPARTMENT REGULATIONS.
24 (B) RECERTIFICATION.--
25 (1) PARAMEDICS SHALL BE RECERTIFIED ON ACTIVE STATUS BY
26 THE DEPARTMENT UPON RECEIPT OF A COMPETENCY-BASED ASSESSMENT
27 STATEMENT VERIFIED BY AN APPROVED ADVANCED LIFE SUPPORT
28 SERVICE MEDICAL DIRECTOR. ACTIVE STATUS RECERTIFICATION SHALL
29 BE VALID FOR A PERIOD OF THREE YEARS.
30 (2) ANY PARAMEDIC CERTIFIED UNDER THIS ACT WHO FAILS TO
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1 SATISFY THE REQUIREMENTS FOR ACTIVE STATUS RECERTIFICATION
2 SHALL BE AUTOMATICALLY AND INVOLUNTARILY PLACED ON INACTIVE
3 STATUS. ANY PARAMEDIC CERTIFIED UNDER THIS ACT MAY REQUEST
4 APPLICATION FOR INACTIVE STATUS. APPLICATION FOR INACTIVE
5 STATUS SHALL BE COMPLETED AND RETURNED TO THE DEPARTMENT.
6 UPON RECEIPT OF EACH APPLICATION, THE APPLICANT SHALL BE
7 MAINTAINED ON INACTIVE STATUS INDEFINITELY AND SHALL BE
8 ENTITLED TO APPLY FOR REACTIVATION TO ACTIVE STATUS AT ANY
9 TIME. ANY PARAMEDIC WHO REQUESTS ACTIVE STATUS WHO HAS BEEN
10 IN INACTIVE STATUS FOR A PERIOD OF MORE THAN 180 DAYS SHALL,
11 PRIOR TO RECEIVING ACTIVE STATUS, BE ISSUED A TEMPORARY
12 PRACTICE PERMIT PENDING ACTIVE STATUS CERTIFICATION.
13 (3) ANY PARAMEDIC CERTIFIED UNDER THIS ACT WHO IS CALLED
14 TO ACTIVE MILITARY SERVICE, FOR LESS THAN ONE YEAR, SHALL
15 RETAIN CURRENT CERTIFICATION STATUS UNEXPIRED DURING THE
16 PERIOD WHILE ON ACTIVE MILITARY SERVICE. ANY PARAMEDIC ON
17 ACTIVE MILITARY SERVICE FOR A PERIOD OF MORE THAN 180 DAYS
18 SHALL BE REQUIRED TO RECEIVE A PERIOD OF INTERNSHIP AND
19 TRAINING AS DIRECTED BY AN APPROVED ADVANCED LIFE SUPPORT
20 SERVICE MEDICAL DIRECTOR PENDING REINSTATEMENT OF ACTIVE
21 STATUS CERTIFICATION. ANY PARAMEDIC ON ACTIVE MILITARY
22 SERVICE FOR A PERIOD OF LESS THAN 365 DAYS SHALL HAVE 90 DAYS
23 FROM THE DATE OF SEPARATION TO APPLY FOR REINSTATEMENT UNDER
24 THE PROVISIONS OF THIS PARAGRAPH. ANY PARAMEDIC ON ACTIVE
25 MILITARY SERVICE FOR A PERIOD OF MORE THAN 365 DAYS SHALL BE
26 PLACED ON INACTIVE STATUS AND SHALL BE GOVERNED BY THE
27 INACTIVE STATUS PROCEDURE WHEN APPLYING FOR ACTIVE STATUS.
28 SECTION 4. COMPETENCY-BASED ASSESSMENT.
29 (A) APPROVAL.--PARAMEDIC RECERTIFICATION FOR ACTIVE STATUS
30 AND RECIPROCITY SHALL BE ACCOMPANIED BY A COMPETENCY-BASED
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1 ASSESSMENT STATEMENT FROM AN APPROVED ADVANCED LIFE SUPPORT
2 SERVICE MEDICAL DIRECTOR. COMPETENCY-BASED ASSESSMENT SHALL
3 INCLUDE VERIFICATION THAT A PARAMEDIC IS COMPETENT IN ACCORDANCE
4 WITH CURRENT UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
5 EMERGENCY MEDICAL TECHNICIAN PARAMEDIC NATIONAL STANDARDS
6 CURRICULUM AND EXISTING DEPARTMENT REGULATIONS, THAT THE
7 PARAMEDIC IS ACTIVE, AND THAT THE PARAMEDIC IS IN COMPLIANCE
8 WITH EXISTING DEPARTMENT REGULATIONS FOR ACCREDITED CONTINUING
9 EDUCATION AND TRAINING. COMPETENCY-BASED ASSESSMENTS SHALL BE
10 PROVIDED BY A PARAMEDICS PRIMARY ADVANCED LIFE SUPPORT SERVICE.
11 WHEN AN ADVANCED LIFE SUPPORT SERVICE MEDICAL DIRECTOR DOES NOT
12 APPROVE A COMPETENCY-BASED ASSESSMENT STATEMENT, WRITTEN
13 DOCUMENTATION SHALL BE SUBMITTED TO THE DEPARTMENT OUTLINING THE
14 REASONS FOR REFUSING TO ISSUE AN APPROVED STATEMENT.
15 (B) CONTINUING EDUCATION AND TRAINING.--THE DEPARTMENT
16 SHALL, WITH ADVICE FROM THE COUNCIL AND THE COMMITTEE, ESTABLISH
17 AND MAINTAIN A PROGRAM OF CONTINUING EDUCATION AND TRAINING
18 WHICH SHALL BE UTILIZED AS A CRITERIA FOR EVALUATING AND
19 APPROVING COMPETENCY-BASED ASSESSMENTS. EXTENSIONS FOR
20 CONTINUING EDUCATION AND TRAINING DEADLINES SHALL BE GRANTED BY
21 AN ADVANCED LIFE SUPPORT SERVICE MEDICAL DIRECTOR WHEN THERE ARE
22 EXTENUATING CIRCUMSTANCES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO,
23 ILLNESS OR INJURY.
24 (C) APPEAL.--ANY APPLICANT WHO DOES NOT RECEIVE AN APPROVED
25 COMPETENCY-BASED ASSESSMENT STATEMENT MAY APPEAL TO THE
26 DEPARTMENT, THROUGH THE APPLICANT'S REGIONAL COUNCIL, FOR A
27 COMPETENCY EVALUATION HEARING. UPON RECEIPT OF AN APPEAL FOR A
28 COMPETENCY EVALUATION HEARING, THE DEPARTMENT SHALL GRANT A
29 CERTIFICATION EXPIRATION EXTENSION UNTIL THE APPEAL IS RESOLVED.
30 DURING THE APPEAL PERIOD A PARAMEDIC SHALL HAVE MEDICAL COMMAND
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1 TEMPORARILY SUSPENDED AND MAY NOT FUNCTION IN AN ACTIVE STATUS
2 UNTIL THE APPEAL IS RESOLVED.
3 (D) HEARINGS.--ANY APPLICANT NOT RECEIVING AN APPROVED
4 COMPETENCY-BASED ASSESSMENT STATEMENT MAY IMMEDIATELY REQUEST IN
5 WRITING A COMPETENCY-BASED ASSESSMENT EVALUATION HEARING. UPON
6 RECEIPT BY THE REGIONAL COUNCIL, ALL COMPETENCY-BASED ASSESSMENT
7 EVALUATION HEARINGS SHALL BE INITIATED OR FORWARDED TO THE
8 DEPARTMENT WITHIN 30 DAYS OF RECEIPT OF THE REQUEST. HEARINGS
9 SHALL BE INITIATED WITHIN 60 DAYS OF THE REQUEST BEING RECEIVED
10 BY THE DEPARTMENT, SHALL BE RESOLVED WITHIN 120 DAYS OF THE
11 REQUEST BEING RECEIVED BY THE DEPARTMENT AND SHALL BE CONDUCTED
12 IN ACCORDANCE WITH DEPARTMENTAL REGULATION. WITNESSES AS MAY BE
13 DEEMED NECESSARY TO A RESOLUTION SHALL BE ALLOWED TO TESTIFY,
14 EITHER IN PERSON, BY DEPOSITION OR BY AFFIDAVIT.
15 (E) DISPOSITION.--UPON CONCLUSION OF THE HEARING, THE
16 DEPARTMENT SHALL ISSUE A CERTIFICATE OF RECERTIFICATION
17 RETROACTIVE TO THE DATE OF EXPIRATION OR ISSUE A TEMPORARY
18 PRACTICE PERMIT OR REFUSE TO ISSUE A CERTIFICATE AND SHALL
19 NOTIFY THE APPLICANT IN WRITING BY CERTIFIED MAIL WITHIN FIVE
20 WORKING DAYS OF THE FINAL DISPOSITION.
21 SECTION 5. RECIPROCITY; TEMPORARY PRACTICE PERMITS.
22 (A) RECIPROCITY.--IN ORDER TO OBTAIN RECIPROCITY TO PRACTICE
23 AND ENGAGE IN PROFESSIONAL PARAMEDICINE, A PERSON WHO HOLDS A
24 CURRENT AND VALID PARAMEDIC LICENSE OR CERTIFICATION ISSUED BY
25 ANY OTHER STATE, TERRITORY OR POSSESSION OF THE UNITED STATES OR
26 THE DOMINION OF CANADA, WHOSE PARAMEDIC TRAINING PROGRAM MEETS
27 OR EXCEEDS THE CURRENT UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF
28 TRANSPORTATION EMERGENCY MEDICAL TECHNICIAN PARAMEDIC NATIONAL
29 STANDARDS CURRICULUM AND WHO PRESENTS TO THE DEPARTMENT AN
30 APPROVED COMPETENCY-BASED ASSESSMENT OR ITS EQUIVALENT FROM THE
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1 MOST RECENT PRACTICE, MAY BE ISSUED BY THE DEPARTMENT A
2 TEMPORARY PRACTICE PERMIT.
3 (B) TEMPORARY PRACTICE PERMIT.--PERSONS MAY BE ISSUED A
4 TEMPORARY PRACTICE PERMIT BY THE DEPARTMENT FOR ANY OF THE
5 FOLLOWING REASONS:
6 (1) TO A PERSON SEEKING RECIPROCITY UNDER THE PROVISIONS
7 OF SECTION 5(A).
8 (2) TO AN APPLICANT TO PRACTICE AND ENGAGE IN
9 PROFESSIONAL PARAMEDICINE FOR A ONE-YEAR PERIOD FROM THE
10 COMPLETION OF THEIR EDUCATION PROGRAM. THE DEPARTMENT SHALL
11 ISSUE A TEMPORARY PRACTICE PERMIT UPON RECEIPT BY THE
12 DEPARTMENT OF VERIFICATION OF COURSE COMPLETION AND A
13 STATEMENT OF COMPETENCY-BASED ASSESSMENT APPROVED BY AN
14 ADVANCED LIFE SUPPORT SERVICE MEDICAL DIRECTOR.
15 (3) TO A PARAMEDIC WHO REQUESTS TO RETURN TO ACTIVE
16 STATUS FROM INACTIVE STATUS WHO HAS BEEN IN INACTIVE STATUS
17 FOR MORE THAN 180 DAYS.
18 (C) TERM.--TEMPORARY PRACTICE PERMITS SHALL BE ISSUED BY THE
19 DEPARTMENT AND SHALL BE NONRENEWABLE AND VALID FOR A PERIOD OF
20 ONE YEAR AND DURING SUCH ADDITIONAL PERIOD AS THE DEPARTMENT MAY
21 IN EACH CASE ESPECIALLY PERMIT, EXCEPT THAT THE PERMIT SHALL
22 EXPIRE AND TERMINATE IF THE PERSON FAILS TO MEET THE STANDARDS
23 AND REQUIREMENTS FOR CERTIFICATION PROVIDED FOR IN SECTION 3,
24 FAILS TO PASS A CERTIFICATION EXAMINATION, FAILS TO OBTAIN AN
25 APPROVED COMPETENCY-BASED ASSESSMENT VERIFICATION AND MEDICAL
26 COMMAND AUTHORIZATION FROM AN APPROVED ADVANCED LIFE SUPPORT
27 SERVICE MEDICAL DIRECTOR OR FAILS TO OBTAIN ACTIVE STATUS
28 CERTIFICATION FROM THE DEPARTMENT. ANY PERSON ISSUED A TEMPORARY
29 PRACTICE PERMIT SHALL BE REQUIRED TO BE ACCOMPANIED BY AN
30 APPROVED ACTIVE STATUS PARAMEDIC UNTIL SUCH TIME AS AN APPROVED
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1 COMPETENCY-BASED ASSESSMENT AND MEDICAL COMMAND AUTHORIZATION
2 FROM AN APPROVED ADVANCED LIFE SUPPORT SERVICE MEDICAL DIRECTOR
3 AND ACTIVE STATUS CERTIFICATION FROM THE DEPARTMENT IS OBTAINED
4 OR THE PERMIT EXPIRES OR IS TERMINATED BY THE DEPARTMENT.
5 SECTION 6. PARAMEDIC ADVISORY PROCESS.
6 (A) ADVISORY COMMITTEE.--THE COUNCIL SHALL ESTABLISH A
7 COMMITTEE TO ADVISE THE DEPARTMENT ON MATTERS CONCERNING
8 PARAMEDIC STANDARDS AND PARAMEDIC CONTINUING EDUCATION AND
9 TRAINING CURRICULA, AND THE DEPARTMENT SHALL SEEK THE ADVICE OF
10 THE COUNCIL AND THE COMMITTEE ON ALL ISSUES CONCERNING
11 PARAMEDICINE AND PARAMEDICS BEFORE ENACTING CHANGES TO STANDARDS
12 OR CURRICULUM.
13 (B) COMMITTEE MEMBERS.--THE COMMITTEE SHALL BE
14 REPRESENTATIVE OF PARAMEDICINE AND PARAMEDICS WITHIN THIS
15 COMMONWEALTH AND SHALL INCLUDE MEMBERS OF THE ASSOCIATION.
16 DEPARTMENTAL FULL-TIME PARAMEDIC DIRECTOR AND FULL-TIME
17 EDUCATIONAL AND PRACTICE ADVISORS MAY NOT BE APPOINTED TO BE
18 MEMBERS OF THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
19 (C) TERM.--THE TERM OF A COMMITTEE MEMBER SHALL BE IN
20 ACCORDANCE WITH COUNCIL POLICY.
21 (D) MEETINGS.--MEETINGS SHALL BE CONDUCTED IN ACCORDANCE
22 WITH COUNCIL POLICY.
23 (E) DIRECTOR OF PARAMEDIC AFFAIRS.--THE DEPARTMENT SHALL
24 SELECT AND APPOINT A FULL-TIME DIRECTOR OF PARAMEDIC AFFAIRS,
25 WHO SHALL BE A CERTIFIED AND ACTIVELY PRACTICING PARAMEDIC IN
26 THIS COMMONWEALTH. THE DIRECTOR OF PARAMEDIC AFFAIRS SHALL
27 COORDINATE AND OVERSEE ADVANCED LIFE SUPPORT PREHOSPITAL
28 EMERGENCY MEDICAL CARE AND PARAMEDIC FUNCTIONS AND SHALL
29 COMMUNICATE WITH THE COMMITTEE ON ALL MATTERS CONCERNING
30 PARAMEDICINE AND PARAMEDICS.
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1 (F) EDUCATIONAL AND PRACTICE ADVISORS.--THE DEPARTMENT SHALL
2 SELECT AND APPOINT ONE OR MORE FULL-TIME EDUCATIONAL ADVISORS
3 AND ONE OR MORE FULL-TIME PRACTICE ADVISORS, ALL OF WHOM SHALL
4 BE CERTIFIED AND ACTIVELY PRACTICING PARAMEDICS IN THIS
5 COMMONWEALTH AND WHO SHALL ADVISE THE FULL-TIME DIRECTOR OF
6 PARAMEDIC AFFAIRS ON MATTERS CONCERNING CONTINUING EDUCATION AND
7 TRAINING AND PARAMEDIC STANDARDS AND PRACTICES, AND SHALL ASSIST
8 IN COMMUNICATING WITH THE COMMITTEE ON ALL MATTERS CONCERNING
9 PARAMEDICINE AND PARAMEDICS.
10 SECTION 7. CERTIFIED PARAMEDIC; USE OF TITLE.
11 ANY PERSON WHO HOLDS A PROFESSIONAL PARAMEDIC CERTIFICATE IN
12 THIS COMMONWEALTH SHALL HAVE THE RIGHT TO USE THE TITLE
13 "CERTIFIED PARAMEDIC" AND THE ABBREVIATION "C.P." NO OTHER
14 PERSON SHALL ENGAGE IN THE PRACTICE OF PROFESSIONAL PARAMEDICINE
15 OR USE THE TITLE "CERTIFIED PARAMEDIC" OR THE ABBREVIATION
16 "C.P." TO INDICATE THAT THE PERSON IS A CERTIFIED PARAMEDIC. NO
17 PERSON SHALL SELL OR FRAUDULENTLY OBTAIN OR FRAUDULENTLY FURNISH
18 ANY PARAMEDIC DIPLOMA, CERTIFICATION, RECORD OF REGISTRATION OR
19 AID OR ABET THEREIN.
20 SECTION 8. APPLICABILITY.
21 (A) TRANSITIONAL PROVISION.--PARAMEDIC CERTIFICATIONS WHICH
22 EXPIRE PRIOR TO 180 DAYS AFTER THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS ACT
23 SHALL BE EXTENDED FOR A PERIOD OF ONE YEAR TO COMPLETE
24 ACCREDITED CONTINUING EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS IMPOSED BY THIS
25 ACT.
26 (B) EXPIRED CERTIFICATION.--PARAMEDICS WHOSE CERTIFICATION
27 EXPIRED AFTER JANUARY 1, 1987, OTHER THAN FOR DISCIPLINARY
28 REASONS OR CONVICTION OF A FELONY, SHALL BE ELIGIBLE TO APPLY
29 FOR INACTIVE CERTIFICATION STATUS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE
30 PROVISIONS OF SECTION 3(B)(2).
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1 (C) RULES AND REGULATIONS.--THE DEPARTMENT, WITH ASSISTANCE
2 FROM THE COUNCIL AND FROM THE ASSOCIATION, SHALL DEVELOP RULES
3 AND REGULATIONS FOR THE ADMINISTRATION OF THIS ACT, WHICH SHALL
4 BE PROMULGATED WITHIN 90 DAYS FROM THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS
5 ACT.
6 SECTION 9. REPEALS.
7 ALL ACTS AND PARTS OF ACTS ARE REPEALED INSOFAR AS THEY ARE
8 INCONSISTENT WITH THIS ACT.
9 SECTION 10. EFFECTIVE DATE.
10 THIS ACT SHALL TAKE EFFECT IN 60 DAYS.
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