Texas Administrative Code › Title 22 - EXAMINING BOARDS › Part 9 - TEXAS MEDICAL BOARD › Chapter 197 - EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICE › Section 197.2 - Definitions

Current through Reg. 49, No. 28; July 12, 2024
The following words and terms, when used in §§
									197.3-
				  197.6
				  of this chapter shall have the following meanings, unless the context clearly
				  indicates otherwise.
(1) Advanced life
				support--Emergency prehospital care that involves invasive medical
				interventions including, but not limited to, the delivery or assisted delivery
				of medications, defibrillation, and advanced airway management. The provision
				of advanced life support shall be under the medical direction and/or
				supervision and control of a licensed physician.
(2) Basic life support--Emergency prehospital
				care that involves noninvasive medical interventions. The provision of basic
				life support may be under the medical direction and/or supervision and control
				of a licensed physician.
(3)
				Board--The Texas Medical Board.
(4)
				Delegated practice--Permission given by a physician licensed by the board,
				either in person or by treatment protocols or standing orders to a specific
				prehospital provider to provide medical care.
(5) Direct medical control--Immediate and
				concurrent clinical direction either on-scene or via electronic communication
				from a physician licensed by the board and designated by the EMS medical
				director. If an EMS system does not have an EMS Medical Director, then such
				designation should be by a physician advisor, or in his or her absence, the
				director of the EMS system.
(6)
				Emergency medical services personnel--Those individuals certified or licensed
				by the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) to provide emergency
				medical care.
(7) Emergency medical
				services provider--As defined under 25 TAC §
									157.2(30)
				(relating to Definitions), a provider that uses, operates or maintains EMS
				vehicles and EMS personnel to provide EMS.
(8) Emergency medical services system--All
				components needed to provide a continuum of prehospital medical care including,
				but not limited to, a medical director, transport vehicles, trained personnel,
				access and dispatch, communications, and receiving medical
				facilities.
(9) Intervenor
				physician--A physician licensed by the board, who, without having established a
				prior physician/patient relationship with the emergency patient, accepts
				responsibility for the prehospital care, and who shall provide proof of a
				current medical license when requested.
(10) Medical director--A physician licensed
				by the board who is responsible for all aspects of the operation of an EMS
				system concerning provision of medical care. This physician may also be
				referred to as the off-line medical director.
(11) Prehospital providers--All DSHS
				certified or licensed personnel providing medical care in an out-of-hospital
				environment.
(12)
				Protocols--Written instructions providing prehospital personnel with a
				standardized approach to commonly encountered problems in the out-of-hospital
				setting, typically in regard to patient care. Protocols may include standing
				orders to be implemented prior to, or in lieu of, establishing communication
				with direct medical control.
(13)
				Standing delegation orders--Instructions or orders provided by the EMS medical
				director to EMS personnel, directing them to perform certain medical care in
				the absence of any communication with direct medical control.