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-.02 - Definitions

Current through Rules and Regulations filed through June 27, 2024
The following definitions shall apply in the interpretation
				 of these standards:
(a) "Advanced
				Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) Certification" means successful completion of a
				course recognized by the Department which utilizes nationally recognized
				advanced cardiac care standards.
(b) "Advanced Emergency Medical Technician"
				or "AEMT" means a person who has been licensed by the Department after having
				successfully attained certification by the National Registry of Emergency
				Medical Technicians (NREMT) as an Advanced Emergency Medical Technician
				(AEMT).
(c) "Advanced Life Support
				(ALS)" means the assessment, and if necessary, treatment or transportation by
				ambulance, utilizing medically necessary supplies and equipment provided by at
				least one individual licensed above the level of Emergency Medical
				Technician.
(d) "Advanced Tactical
				Practitioner (ATP)" means a certification issued by the United States Special
				Operations Command (USSOCOM) Medic Certification Program.
(e) "Air Ambulance" means a rotary-wing
				aircraft registered by the Department that is specially constructed and
				equipped and is intended to be used for air medical emergency transportation of
				patients.
(f) "Air Ambulance
				Service" means an agency or company operating under a valid license from the
				Department that uses Air Ambulances to provide Ambulance Service.
(g) "Ambulance Service" means the provision
				of emergency care and transportation for a wounded, injured, sick, invalid, or
				incapacitated human being to or from a place where medical care is furnished;
				or an entity licensed to provide such services.
(h) "Approved" means acceptable to the
				Department based on its determination as to conformance with existing
				standards.
(i) "Authorized Agent"
				means a person with the legal authority to sign on behalf of the legal owner of
				a business entity.
(j) "Base of
				Operations" means the primary location at which administration of the EMS
				Agency or EMS Initial Education Program occurs and where records are
				maintained. All licensed EMS Agencies and designated EMS Initial Education
				Programs must designate one Base of Operations location within the State of
				Georgia.
(k) "Basic Life Support
				(BLS)" means treatment or transportation by Ground Ambulance vehicle or
				treatment with medically necessary supplies and services involving non-invasive
				life support measures.
(l) "Board"
				means the Board of Public Health.
(m) "Cardiac Technician" means a person who
				has been licensed by the Department after having successfully completed an
				approved Cardiac Technician certification exam, or licensed by the Composite
				State Board of Medical Examiners, now known as the Georgia Composite Medical
				Board, prior to January 1, 2002. This is a historical reference only, as no new
				Cardiac Technician licenses will be issued.
(n) "Charge" means a formal claim of criminal
				wrongdoing brought by a law enforcement official or prosecutor against an
				individual, whether by arrest warrant, information, accusation, or
				indictment.
(o) "CLIA" means the
				Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments of 1988 (42 USC 263a) and regulations (42 CFR 493) which
				specifies the federal standards applicable to all U.S. facilities or sites that
				test human specimens for health assessment or to diagnose, prevent, or treat
				disease.
(p) "Clinical Preceptor"
				means a licensed Emergency Medical Technician - Responder, Emergency Medical
				Technician, Advanced Emergency Medical Technician, Emergency Medical
				Technician-Intermediate, Cardiac Technician, Paramedic, IV team member,
				licensed practical nurse, registered nurse, physician's assistant, allied
				health professional or physician who meets the requirements for preceptors as
				established by the Department.
(q)
				"Commissioner" means the Commissioner of the Department of Public
				Health.
(r) "Communication
				Protocols" means guidelines that specify which emergency interventions require
				direct voice order from medical control in the rendering of prehospital
				emergency medical care to a patient and may include other guidelines relative
				to communication between Medics and medical control.
(s) "CPR Certification" means successful
				completion of a healthcare provider course in cardiopulmonary resuscitation
				which is recognized by the Department.
(t) "Department" means the Department of
				Public Health, Office of Emergency Medical Services and Trauma.
(u) "Designated 911 Zone Provider" means an
				EMS Agency providing Ground Ambulance service and operating under a valid
				Ground Ambulance license issued by the Department, which is granted a specific
				geographical territory or Emergency Response Zone to provide emergency
				transport services following a Public Call in compliance with the Regional
				Ambulance Zoning Plan for the respective EMS Region.
(v) "Emergency" means a request for a
				non-planned response or an urgent need for the protection of life, health, or
				safety, as perceived by a prudent layperson.
(w) "Emergency Medical Services" or
				"Emergency Medical Services System" or "EMS" or "EMS System" means the
				integrated system of medical response established and designed to respond,
				assess, treat, and facilitate the disposition of victims of acute injury or
				illness and those in need of medically safe transportation. EMS also includes
				medical response provided in hazardous environments, rescue situations,
				disasters and mass casualties, mass gathering events, as well as interfacility
				transfer of patients and participation in community health
				activities.
(x) "Emergency Medical
				Services Agency" or "EMS Agency" means an Air Ambulance Service, Ground
				Ambulance Service, Medical First Responder Service, or Neonatal Transport
				Service licensed by the Department.
(y) "Emergency Medical Service Advisory
				Council" or "EMSAC" means an advisory council that provides advice to the
				Department in matters essential to its operations with respect to Emergency
				Medical Services.
(z) "Emergency
				Medical Services Medical Director" or "EMS Medical Director" or "Medical
				Director" means a physician licensed to practice in this state who provides
				medical direction to an EMS Agency licensed by the Department or an EMS Initial
				Education Program designated by the Department.
(aa) "Emergency Medical Services Medical
				Directors Advisory Council" or "EMSMDAC" means an advisory council that
				provides advice to the Department on issues essential to medical direction of
				the EMS system.
(bb) "Emergency
				Medical Services Personnel" or "EMS Personnel" means any Emergency Medical
				Technician - Responder, Emergency Medical Technician, Emergency Medical
				Technician-Intermediate, Advanced Emergency Medical Technician, Cardiac
				Technician, or Paramedic licensed by the Department.
(cc) "Emergency Medical Service Region" or
				"EMS Region" means a geographic area identified by the Department for the
				purpose of administratively sub-dividing the Emergency Medical Services system
				in this state. Each EMS Region shall be comprised of counties from one or more
				health districts established by the Department.
(dd) "Emergency Medical Technician" or "EMT"
				means a person who has been licensed by the Department after being certified by
				National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians (NREMT) as an Emergency
				Medical Technician (EMT).
(ee)
				"Emergency Medical Technician - Intermediate" or "EMT-I" means a person who has
				been licensed by the Department after being certified by the National Registry
				of Emergency Medical Technicians (NREMT) as an Emergency Medical Technician -
				Intermediate (EMT-I) prior to March 31, 2013, or licensed by the former Georgia
				Department of Human Resources as an EMT prior to January 1, 2002. This is a
				historical reference only, as no new Emergency Medical Technician -
				Intermediate licenses will be issued.
(ff) "Emergency Medical Technician -
				Responder" or "EMT-R" means a person who has been licensed by the Department
				after being certified by the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians
				(NREMT) as an Emergency Medical Responder (EMR).
(gg) "Emergency Response Zone" or "ERZ" means
				a geographical territory identified by the Department within each EMS Region
				for the purposes of providing emergency medical transport services by
				designated Ground Ambulance Services following a Public Call.
(hh) "EMS Initial Education Program" means an
				instructional program of Department-approved EMS initial education courses at
				the EMR, EMT, AEMT, and/or Paramedic levels.
(ii) "EMS Initial Education Program Sponsor"
				or "Sponsor" means a Georgia licensed EMS Agency or Fire Department; accredited
				hospital, clinic, or medical center; accredited educational institution, or
				other Department approved entity that has accepted responsibility for the
				operation of an EMS Initial Education Program.
(jj) "EMS Instructor" means an individual who
				is qualified to teach EMS continuing education courses, community education
				programs, and who is licensed to coordinate or serve as the lead instructor of
				National Continued Competency Requirement (NCCR) courses as specified by the
				National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians (NREMT), and who is further
				licensed to coordinate or serve as the lead instructor of an EMR initial
				education course approved by the Department.
(kk) "EMS Instructor/Coordinator (AEMT)" or
				"EMS I/C (A)" means an individual who meets all requirements for licensure as
				an EMS Instructor and who is further qualified and licensed to coordinate or
				serve as the lead instructor of an initial EMR, EMT, or AEMT course approved by
				the Department.
(ll) "EMS
				Instructor/Coordinator (EMT)" or "EMS I/C (E)" means an individual who meets
				all requirements for licensure as an EMS Instructor and who is further
				qualified and licensed to coordinate or serve as the lead instructor of an
				initial EMR or EMT course approved by the Department.
(mm) "EMS Instructor/Coordinator (Paramedic)"
				or "EMS I/C (P)" means an individual who meets all requirements for licensure
				as an EMS Instructor and who is further qualified and licensed to coordinate or
				serve as the lead instructor of an initial EMR, EMT, AEMT, or Paramedic course
				approved by the Department.
(nn)
				"EMS Instructor with Paramedic Endorsement" or "EMS Instructor (Paramedic)"
				means an individual who was previously licensed by the Department as a Level
				III EMS Instructor; who does not hold an associate degree or higher, but who
				otherwise meets all requirements for licensure as an EMS Instructor/Coordinator
				(Paramedic); and who is qualified and licensed to coordinate or serve as the
				lead instructor of an initial EMR, EMT, or AEMT course approved by the
				Department and to serve as an instructor in an initial Paramedic course
				approved by the Department. This is a historical reference only, as no new EMS
				Instructor with Paramedic Endorsement licenses will be issued.
(oo) "Good Standing" as used in this rule
				refers to a license that is not lapsed, is unrestricted, not on probation or
				suspension, is not currently under investigation, has no pending actions
				against it, and has had no adverse action taken against it that is still in
				effect.
(pp) "Ground Ambulance"
				means a motor vehicle registered by the Department that is specially
				constructed and equipped and is intended to be used for emergency
				transportation of patients.
(qq)
				"Ground Ambulance Service" means an agency or company operating under a valid
				license from the Department that uses Ground Ambulances to provide Ambulance
				Service.
(rr) "Health District"
				means a geographical district designated by the Department of Public Health
				pursuant to O.C.G.A. §
									31-3-15.
(ss) "Invalid Car" means a non-emergency
				transport vehicle used only to transport persons who are convalescent or
				otherwise non-ambulatory, and do not require medical care during
				transport.
(tt) "License (Agency)"
				means a license issued to a Medical First Responder Service or to a Ground
				Ambulance Service, Air Ambulance Service or Neonatal Transport Service which
				signifies that the agency's facilities, vehicles, personnel, and operations
				comply with Title 31, Chapter 11 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, the
				regulations promulgated thereunder, and the policies of the
				Department.
(uu) "License (Medic or
				Instructor)" means a license issued to a person which signifies that the person
				has met the requirements for the respective level of individual licensure
				specified in Title 31, Chapter 11 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated,
				the regulations promulgated thereunder, and the policies of the
				Department.
(vv) "Licensee" means
				all persons licensed by the Department pursuant to Chapter 31-11 and/or these
				rules, all owners and officers of entities licensed pursuant to Chapter 31-11,
				and all applicants for a license pursuant to Chapter 31-11 and/or these
				rules.
(ww) "License Officer" means
				the Commissioner of Public Health or his/her designee.
(xx) "License Renewal Cycle" means a period
				of time established by the Department for renewal of licenses.
(yy) "Medic" means an individual who is
				currently licensed by the Department as an Emergency Medical Technician -
				Responder, Emergency Medical Technician, Emergency Medical Technician -
				Intermediate, Advanced Emergency Medical Technician, Cardiac Technician, or
				Paramedic.
(zz) "Medical Control"
				means the clinical guidance from a physician to EMS Personnel regarding the
				prehospital management of a patient.
(aaa) "Medical Direction" means the
				administrative process of providing medical guidance or supervision including
				but not limited to system design, education, critique, and quality improvement
				by a physician to EMS Personnel, EMS Initial Education Programs, and EMS
				Agencies.
(bbb) "Medical First
				Responder Service" means an agency or company duly licensed by the Department
				that provides on-site care until the arrival of the Department's Designated 911
				Zone Provider.
(ccc) "Medical First
				Responder Vehicle" means a motor vehicle registered by the Department for the
				purpose of providing response to emergencies.
(ddd) "Medical Protocol" means prehospital
				treatment guidelines, approved by the local EMS Medical Director, used to
				manage an emergency medical condition in the field by outlining the permissible
				and appropriate medical treatment that may be rendered by EMS Personnel to a
				patient experiencing a medical emergency or injury.
(eee) "Neonatal Transport Personnel" means
				licensed or certified health care professionals specially trained in the care
				of neonates.
(fff) "Neonatal
				Transport Service" means an agency or company operating under a valid license
				from the Department that provides facility-to-facility transport for Neonates,
				infants, children or adolescents.
(ggg) "Neonatal Transport Vehicle" or
				"Neonatal Ambulance" means a motor vehicle registered by the Department that is
				equipped for the purpose of transporting Neonates to a place where medical care
				is furnished.
(hhh) "Neonate" means
				an infant 0 - 184 days of age, as defined by the Georgia Regional Perinatal
				Care Program.
(iii) "Nurse" means
				an individual who is currently licensed in the State of Georgia as a Registered
				Nurse or Licensed Practical Nurse.
(jjj) "Office of Emergency Medical Services
				and Trauma" means the regulatory subdivision of the Georgia Department of
				Public Health that is directly responsible for administration of the statewide
				EMS system.
(kkk) "Paramedic" means
				a person who has been licensed by the Department after having been certified by
				the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians (NREMT) as a Paramedic,
				certified by the United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) as an
				Advanced Tactical Practitioner (ATP), or licensed as a Paramedic by the
				Composite State Board of Medical Examiners, now known as the Georgia Composite
				Medical Board, prior to January 1, 2002.
(lll) "Patient Care Report" or "Prehospital
				Care Report" or "PCR" means the required written or electronic data set that is
				submitted to the Department or to an acute care facility by an EMS Agency
				regarding each request for an EMS response. The required data set shall include
				all data elements specified by the Department.
(mmm) "Provisional License (Agency)" means a
				license issued to an EMS Agency on a conditional basis to allow a newly
				established EMS Agency to demonstrate that its facilities and operations comply
				with state statutes and these rules and regulations.
(nnn) "Provisional License (Medic)" is
				defined as a license at the EMT, AEMT or Paramedic level that is issued by the
				Department to a person who is provisionally certified by the National Registry
				of Emergency Medical Technicians (NREMT) at the respective level of
				application. Provisional licenses are non-renewable except in times of a
				prolonged public health emergency or as deemed necessary by the
				Department.
(ooo) "Public Safety
				Answering Point" or "PSAP" means an answering location for 911 calls
				originating in a given area.
(ppp)
				"Public Call" means a request for a Ground Ambulance Service from a member of
				the public to a Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) when dialing "911" or the
				PSAP's ten-digit phone number, or a request for an ambulance by any law
				enforcement agency, fire department, rescue squad, or any other public safety
				agency.
(qqq) "Reasonable Distance"
				means the allowable distance for patient transport established by the local EMS
				Medical Director based on the ambulance service's geographical area of
				responsibility, the ambulance service's ability to maintain emergency
				capabilities, and hospital resources.
(rrr) "Regional Ambulance Zoning Plan" means
				the Department approved method of distributing emergency calls among designated
				Ground Ambulance Services in designated geographical territories or Emergency
				Response Zones within each EMS Region in the State.
(sss) "Regional Emergency Medical Services
				Medical Director" or "Regional EMS Medical Director" means a person, having
				approval of the Regional EMS Council and Office of Emergency Medical Services
				and Trauma, who is a physician licensed to practice medicine in this state,
				familiar with the design and operation of prehospital emergency care,
				experienced in the prehospital emergency care of acutely ill or injured
				patients, and experienced in the administrative processes affecting regional
				and state prehospital Emergency Medical Services systems.
(ttt) "Regional Trauma Advisory Committee" or
				"RTAC" means a trauma-specific multidisciplinary, multi-agency advisory group
				that is a committee of the Regional EMS Advisory Council for a given EMS
				Region.
(uuu) "Reserve Ambulance"
				means a registered ambulance that temporarily does not meet the standards for
				ambulance equipment and supplies in these rules and policies of the
				Department.
(vvv) "Scope of
				Practice" means the description, as specified by the Department, of what a
				Licensee legally can, and cannot, do, based on the Licensee's level of
				licensure. It is a legal description of the distinction between licensed health
				care personnel and the lay public, and between different licensed health care
				professionals.
(www) "Specialty
				Care Center" means a licensed hospital dedicated to a specific sub-specialty
				care including, but not limited to, trauma, stroke, pediatric, burn and cardiac
				care.
(xxx) "Specialty Care
				Transport" means transportation in a registered Ground Ambulance, Air Ambulance
				or Neonatal Ambulance during which certain special skills above and beyond
				those taught in state approved initial Paramedic education are utilized.
				Provided, however, that this definition is not intended to authorize a Medic to
				operate beyond his or her Scope of Practice.
O.C.G.A. §§
											31-2A-3,  31-2A-6,  31-11-2,  31-11-5.