KRS § 311A.170 — KY Code / Title XXVI / Chapter 311A / Section 311A.170
311A.170 Paramedics -- Administrative regulations -- Permitted activities -- Employment by hospitals -- Reasonable control by employers
Status: in_force

311A.170 Paramedics -- Administrative regulations -- Permitted activities --

Employment by hospitals -- Reasonable control by employers.

(1) Subject to the provisions of this section, a paramedic may perform any procedure:

(a) Specified in the most recent curriculum of the United States Department of

Transportation training course for paramedics; and

(b) Any additional procedure specified by the board by administrative regulation.

(2) When there is a change in the United States Department of Transportation

curriculum for paramedics, or the board approves an additional skill or procedure

by administrative regulation, or approves a protocol differing from the curriculum

or administrative regulations, no person who was not trained under that curriculum

or administrative regulation shall perform any activity or procedure in the new

curriculum, administrative regulation, or protocol unless the person has been trained

according to the new curriculum, administrative regulation, or protocol and

demonstrates competency in the new knowledge or skill. Competency in a new skill

shall be demonstrated through a return demonstration to a competent evaluator. If

the board adopts the new procedure or skill, the board shall promulgate an

administrative regulation specifying the new procedure, training requirements,

examination requirements, and a time period during which the paramedic shall

successfully complete the material or lose his or her license as a paramedic.

(3) The board shall promulgate administrative regulations in accordance with KRS

Chapter 13A establishing the educational requirements, testing requirements,

credentialing, and licensure requirements of advanced practice paramedics.

Advanced practice paramedics shall validate competency as prescribed in

administrative regulations and be identified as one (1) or more of the following

certification levels of advanced practice paramedic:

(a) Certified community paramedic;

(b) Certified critical care paramedic;

(c) Certified flight paramedic;

(d) Certified tactical paramedic; or

(e) Certified wilderness paramedic.

(4) A paramedic may draw blood samples from a criminal defendant upon the request

of a peace officer and the consent of the defendant, or without the consent of the

defendant upon receipt of a court order requiring the procedure, if the paramedic is

authorized to do so by his or her employer. The authorization shall be in writing and

may be by general written policy of the employer and the service's medical director.

The paramedic who drew the blood sample shall deliver the sample to the peace

officer or other person specified by the court in a court order and shall testify in

court with regard thereto upon service of a proper subpoena.

(5) A paramedic shall be permitted to render services only under the supervision of a

certified emergency medical services medical director, certified mobile integrated

healthcare program medical director, or under the direct supervision of an

emergency department medical director.

(6) A paramedic holding board certification as a community paramedic may provide

mobile integrated healthcare services only as an employee of a mobile integrated

healthcare program licensed and authorized in accordance with administrative

regulations promulgated by the Kentucky Board of Emergency Medical Services.

(7) Any provision of this chapter other than this section relating to the requirement for

additional training, requirement for skill examination, or approval of standing

orders, protocols, or medical procedures to the contrary notwithstanding, a

paramedic may be employed by a hospital to work as a licensed paramedic in the

emergency department of the hospital subject to the following conditions:

(a) The hospital in collaboration with the medical staff shall provide operating

procedures and policies under which the paramedic shall operate consistent

with the paramedic's scope of practice;

(b) A paramedic shall provide patient care services under the orders of a

physician, physician assistant, advanced practice registered nurse, or as

delegated by a registered nurse;

(c) Subject to the provisions relating to the scope of practice of a paramedic, a

hospital may require a paramedic to take additional training on any subject or

skill which the paramedic may be required to perform in a hospital and

demonstrate competency in the skill or subject to a competent evaluator; and

(d) The paramedic does not violate the provisions of KRS 311A.175 or any other

statute or administrative regulation relating to a paramedic.

No provision of this section shall prevent a paramedic from being employed in any

other section of the hospital where the paramedic's job duties do not require

certification or licensure by the board and do not otherwise constitute the unlawful

practice of medicine.

(8) Except as provided in subsection (2) of this section, nothing in this section shall

prevent an employer from exercising reasonable fiscal control over the costs of

providing medical services to its citizens nor prevent the employer from exercising

any reasonable control over paramedics providing care on behalf of the licensed

entity.