Ohio Administrative Code › Title 4765 - State Board of Emergency Medical Services › Chapter 4765-7 - Accreditation of Training Programs › Section 4765-7-12 - Online education and distance learning delivery systems for EMS training programs offered through an accredited institution

Current through all regulations passed and filed through July 1, 2024
(A) The board shall approve an accredited
			 institution to provide an EMS training program through online education and/or
			 distance learning delivery system(s), as defined in rule
			 4765-1-01 of the Administrative
			 Code, if the institution is of good reputation and meets the following
			 requirements:
(1) Meets all requirements for
			 accreditation as set forth in rule
			 4765-7-02 of the Administrative
			 Code and currently possesses a certificate of accreditation at the level of the
			 EMS training program for which the institution seeks to provide the online
			 and/or distance learning delivery systems;
(2) Submits, to the board, a written request
			 to offer EMS training via alternative delivery systems. Such a request shall
			 indicate the level(s) of EMS training program(s) proposed to be offered and
			 shall include documentation of how the accredited institution meets the
			 requirements set forth in this rule;
(3) Has maintained a certificate of
			 accreditation for at least the preceding three full years at or above the level
			 of the EMS training program for which the institution seeks to provide the
			 online and/or distance learning delivery systems for at least the preceding
			 three full years from the date of accreditation;
(4) Has completed at least one EMS training
			 program in the traditional classroom setting at or above the level of the EMS
			 training program for which the institution seeks to provide the online and/or
			 distance learning delivery systems;
(5) It is in good standing as defined in rule
			 4765-1-01 of the Administrative
			 Code;
(6) Has written policies,
			 which will be made available to each student, regarding all of the following:
(a) Admission requirements;
(b) Minimum requirements for technological
			 needs for students enrolling in an EMS training program utilizing online
			 education or distance learning to include, but not limited to, hardware,
			 software, and internet connection speed;
(c) Technological support that will be
			 provided by the accredited institution to include at a minimum, the hours of
			 support and the method(s) in which the support will be provided;
(d) A schedule identifying weekly access to
			 the  instructors while the EMS training
			 program is in session to allow for direct communication between
			  instructors and students. This should
			 include, but not be limited to, telephone numbers, email addresses and office
			 hours;
(e) Security parameters
			 protecting the students' financial and personal information in accordance with
			 state and federal laws;
(f) Online
			 procedures for course administration and completion;
(g) Method(s) to transition from the online
			 education and distance learning EMS training program into the classroom version
			 for the same program in order to complete the required training. This policy
			 shall include a reasonable time frame in which the transition process must be
			 completed.
(7) Develops
			 and maintains the following for all EMS training programs utilizing online
			 education or distance learning:
(a) A
			 technology infrastructure that facilitates sound security, including user
			 authentication and authorization procedures and technologies;
(b) Access control procedures and technology
			 that supports EMS training programs utilizing the online education or distance
			 learning systems;
(c) Technological
			 support to meet student needs;
(d)
			 An appropriate security solution to ensure course and systems integrity,
			 especially financial and personal information, in transit and at
			 rest;
(e) A risk management plan to
			 include identification of foreseen risks, continuity and disaster recovery, and
			 incidence response;
(f) Assurance
			 that course data are is readily, securely, and reliably available by electronic
			 or printed means to the division and the division's authorized
			 recipients;
(g) A means to access
			 student and program information to facilitate state audits to verify compliance
			 with rules approved by the board. If the technical support, application server
			 host, or data storage facilities are located outside the state of Ohio, the
			 accredited institution shall submit, upon request of the division, a report
			 encompassing the rules of this chapter to meet the audit requirements. The
			 accredited institution shall provide the division with an audit amendment
			 describing any significant system changes within thirty days of enabling those
			 changes. An enterprise shall make student records available to the division
			 online, in a password protected environment, upon request.
(8) Creates and maintains a complete student
			 course data file to demonstrate student activity and ensure that the following
			 information, at a minimum, is collected and retained:
(a) Student's name;
(b) Dates and times of student activity in
			 the EMS training program and verification of the amount of total time spent
			 utilizing the online education and/or distance learning portion of the
			 program;
(c) The reason a student
			 was suspended or failed to complete the EMS training program utilizing online
			 education or distance learning;
(d)
			 Name or identity number of an accredited institution staff member accessing or
			 entering student records.
(9) Ensures that the EMS training program's
			 final written and psychomotor exams are administered and scored in a
			 traditional classroom setting;
(10)
			 Ensures that an initial EMS training program taught utilizing an online
			 education and/or distance learning delivery system meets all of the following:
(a) Obtains approval from the accredited
			 institution program director and medical director prior to instruction
			 utilizing online education and/or distance learning systems;
(b) Obtains prior written approval of medical
			 content from the program medical director;
(c) Has been developed and is facilitated by
			 an  instructor under the auspices of an
			 accredited institution;
(d)
			 Possesses written documentation of clear objectives, course content and method
			 of delivery that meet all curricula requirements as set forth in Chapters
			 
										4765-12, 4765-15, 4765-16, and
			 4765-17 of the Administrative Code;
(e) Ensures that the didactic portions of
			 each EMS training program curriculum may be taught utilizing online education,
			 distance learning delivery, or traditional classroom settings;
(f) Ensures that the skills practicum
			 instruction, laboratory sessions, and testing portions of each EMS training
			 program curriculum utilize traditional classroom settings under the auspices of
			 an accredited institution;
(g)
			 Ensures that clinical experience and prehospital internships shall be conducted
			 at sites in accordance with affiliation agreements with clinical and/or
			 prehospital organizations.
(11) Requires written evaluations, completed
			 by each student, of each EMS training program offered through an online and/or
			 distance learning delivery system. The evaluation shall include, but is not
			 limited to, the following:
(a) Clarity of
			 written policies associated with the training program;
(b) Course content;
(c) Means of delivery and systems
			 availability;
(d) Availability of
			  instructors.