Compilation of Rules and Regulations of the State of Georgia › Department 511 - RULES OF GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH › Chapter 511-9 - EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS › Subject 511-9-2 - EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES › Rule 511-9-2-.18 - Standards of Conduct for Licensees

Current through Rules and Regulations filed through June 27, 2024
In order to protect the public and ensure the integrity of
				 the emergency medical response system, all persons licensed by the Department
				 pursuant to Chapter 31-11, all owners and officers of entities licensed
				 pursuant to Chapter 31-11, and all applicants for a license pursuant to Chapter
				 31-11 (hereinafter licensees) shall at all times meet the following standards
				 of conduct:
(1) A licensee shall
				comply at all times with the provisions of Chapter 31-11 and the Rules and
				Regulations of the Department.
(2)
				A licensee shall not obtain a license by fraud, forgery, deception,
				misrepresentation, or omission of a material fact.
(3) A licensee shall not present a check to
				the Department for which there are insufficient funds in the account.
(4) A licensee shall not tamper with, alter,
				or change any license issued by the Department.
(5) A licensee shall fully cooperate with the
				Department and its agents during the course of any investigation or inspection,
				and provide true information upon request.
(6) A licensee shall take no action in any
				other jurisdiction that would result in a fine, suspension, or revocation of
				any license similar to that issued to the licensee pursuant to Chapter
				31-11.
(7) A licensee shall not
				advertise its services in a false or misleading manner.
(8) A licensee shall not provide any type or
				level of service that is not authorized by its license or by law.
(9) A licensee shall not provide services
				while its license is suspended, or revoked, inactive, or has lapsed for failure
				to renew, whether personally or through employees, agents, or
				volunteers.
(10) A licensee shall
				correct as soon as practicable all violations and deficiencies found during a
				Department inspection.
(11) A
				licensee's equipment shall be clean and in proper operating condition at all
				times.
(12) A licensee shall not
				falsify any record, patient care report, other report or record, or any other
				document which the licensee is required to maintain under state or federal law
				or Department regulations or policies.
(13) A licensee shall not employ fraud or
				misrepresentation to obtain a fee or any reimbursement in the course of
				Emergency Medical Services or other services under its licensure.
(14) A licensee shall report to the
				Department within ten days the bringing of any criminal charges against the
				licensee, whether by arrest warrant, information, accusation, or indictment.
				This subsection shall not apply to minor traffic offenses.
(15) A licensee shall, upon request by the
				Department, submit copies or permit inspection of any document, which the
				licensee is required to maintain under state or federal law or Department
				regulations.
(16) A licensee shall
				not provide services while under the influence of drugs or alcohol, nor permit
				any employee or co-worker to do so.
(17) A licensee shall use no less than the
				requisite number of licensed individuals applicable to its license.
(18) A licensee shall act with due regard for
				the safety of patients and the public in the operation of an emergency vehicle,
				and shall not use vehicle warning devices unnecessarily or in a manner that
				endangers the safety of the patient or the public.
(19) A licensee shall not aid or abet the
				unlicensed practice of emergency medical care.
(20) A licensee shall not accept anything of
				value in return for a patient referral.
(21) A licensee shall abide by all Regional
				Ambulance Zoning Plans.
(22) A
				licensee shall take no action that would jeopardize the health or safety of a
				patient, including without limitation the abandonment or mistreatment of a
				patient.
(23) A licensee shall pay
				all administrative fines in full within thirty days.
(24) A licensee shall display proper
				identification at all times while on duty, including the Georgia level of
				licensure.
(25) A licensee shall
				maintain the confidentiality of all patient records and information and shall
				not disclose any confidential information or knowledge concerning a patient
				except where required or allowed by law.
(26) A licensee shall take no action that may
				result in a criminal conviction on a felony charge, a crime of moral turpitude,
				or the crime of driving under the influence or possession of a controlled
				substance.
(27) An EMS Instructor
				or EMS Instructor/Coordinator licensee shall maintain student records as
				required by the Department, and shall meet all license renewal
				requirements.
(28) An EMS
				Instructor/Coordinator licensee serving as the Program Director of a designated
				EMS Initial Education Program shall ensure that all state, national, and
				applicable accreditation requirements are met for each student before
				validating that the student has completed the course and/or is clear to test
				the National Registry exam for the respective level of initial
				education.
(29) A licensee shall
				not discriminate on the basis of national origin, race, color, creed, religion,
				gender, sexual orientation, age, economic status, or physical or mental ability
				in providing services.
(30) A
				licensee shall not violate any lawful order of the Department.
(31) A licensee shall not violate any
				statute, rule or regulation, state or federal, which pertains to Emergency
				Medical Services.
(32) A licensee
				shall not violate the security of any exam or exam material for purposes of
				obtaining or maintaining an EMS license by any means including but not limited
				to removing any exam materials from an examination area, the unauthorized
				possession of exam materials, the unauthorized reproduction of exam materials,
				impersonating an examinee, or having another person take an exam on behalf of a
				licensee.
(33) An EMS Instructor or
				EMS Instructor/Coordinator serving as the Program Director, Course Coordinator,
				Lead Instructor, Clinical Coordinator, or other instructional staff in a EMS
				Initial Education course shall ensure that all data related to any student,
				instructor or preceptor that is submitted to or required by the Department is
				accurate and factual and complies with all state, national, and applicable
				accreditation requirements.
(34) A
				licensee shall not issue a certificate of credit/completion for EMS continuing
				education hours to any person without the person meeting the EMS continuing
				education completion requirements as specified by the Department for the
				respective EMS continuing education course.
(35) A licensee shall take no action that
				would jeopardize the health, safety, or wellbeing of a student, including
				without limitation the abandonment or mistreatment of a student.
(36) A licensee shall at no time violate,
				exceed, or disregard the Department specified Scope of Practice for their
				respective license level(s).
(37) A
				licensee shall not make false or misleading statements in any oral, written, or
				electronic report regarding the provision of emergency medical care to any
				patient.
(38) A licensee shall not
				destroy or cause to be destroyed any patient care report.
(39) A licensee shall not fail to respond to
				a call while on duty and shall not leave their duty assignment without the
				proper approval.
(40) A licensee
				shall not delegate EMS functions to a person who lacks the education, training,
				experience, knowledge, or licensure to provide appropriate level of care for
				the patient.
(41) A licensee shall
				not falsify, misrepresent, or alter clinical, field and/or internship documents
				for EMS students.
(42) A licensee
				shall not behave in a disruptive manner toward other EMS personnel, law
				enforcement, firefighters, hospital personnel, other medical personnel,
				patients, family members or others, that interferes with patient care or could
				be reasonably expected to adversely impact the quality of care rendered to a
				patient.
(43) A licensee shall not
				fail to protect and/or advocate for patients/clients/students and/or the public
				from unnecessary risk of harm from another EMS personnel.
(44) A licensee shall not misappropriate
				medications, supplies, equipment, personal items, or money belonging to the
				patient, employer or any other person or entity.
(45) A licensee shall not misrepresent any
				level of certification or licensure.
O.C.G.A. §§
											31-2A-3,  31-2A-6,  31-11-5,  31-11-6,  31-11-9,  31-11-30,  31-11-36,  31-11-56,  31-11-57,  50-13-18.