SCS/SB 418 - This act modifies provisions relating to emergency medical services.DUTIES OF EMS MEDICAL DIRECTORS - 190.103
The act modifies the designations and duties of state and regional EMS medical directors, including that regional EMS directors shall be considered public officials for certain purposes, the state EMS medical director's advisory committee shall be considered a peer review committee and eligible to participate in certain programs, allowing regional medical directors to provide medical direction by telecommunication, and provisions allowing regional medical directors to promulgate treatment protocols for patients with special needs and requiring EMS agencies to follow those protocols.
TEMPORARY HOLDS - 190.147
This act provides that Emergency Medical Technician Paramedics (EMT-P's) who have completed certain training, received authorization, and whose ambulance service has adopted certain protocols may make a good faith determination that certain behavioral health patients must be placed in a temporary hold for transport to the nearest appropriate facility.
This act also specifies that the EMT-P's who have made such determinations shall no longer rely on the common law doctrine of implied consent and are not to be held civilly liable nor be considered to have waived certain specified defenses if employed by a governmental employer.
Under this act, ambulance services adopting the authority and protocols under this act shall have a memorandum of understanding with local law enforcement agencies to achieve a collaborative and coordinated response to patients displaying a likelihood of serious harm to themselves or others or significant incapacitation by alcohol or drugs.
DISCIPLINE OF LICENSED EMS PROVIDERS - 190.165
Under current law, licensed EMS providers who are the subjects of disciplinary investigations are instructed that they are not entitled to have holders of certain certificates, permits, or licenses present at an interview. This act removes this instruction, and so requires EMS providers who are the subject of disciplinary investigations to be advised that they may have anyone present at an interview whom they deem necessary or desirable.
The act also provides that the Administrative Hearing Commission shall hear all relevant evidence on remediation activities of the licensee and shall make a recommendation to the Department of Health and Senior Services as to licensure disposition based on such evidence.
This act is identical to provisions of SS#2/SCS/HCS/HBs 302 & 228 (2017), similar to HCS/HB 1044 (2017), and similar to provisions of HB 942 (2017) and provisions of SB 895 (2016).
JOHN GRANA