Title 35, HEALTH AND SAFETY

(a) Duty.--It shall be the duty of the department to assist in the development of local EMS systems; plan, guide and coordinate the development of regional EMS systems into a unified Statewide system; and coordinate systems in this Commonwealth with similar systems in neighboring…

(a) Preparation.--An EMS agency shall ensure that its responding EMS providers complete an EMS patient care report for each response made in which it encounters a patient or a person who has been identified as a patient to the EMS agency, unless the department by regulation exemp…

(a) Trauma center accreditation.--The foundation shall develop a private voluntary accreditation program to: (1) Establish standards for the operation of trauma centers that receive or seek to receive Commonwealth funds, adopting, at a minimum, current guidelines for trauma cente…

(a) Standards.--The foundation shall accredit Level III trauma centers by adopting, at a minimum, current guidelines defined by the American College of Surgeons for Level III trauma centers. The accreditation process shall be conducted in compliance with section 8107 (relating to…

The foundation shall annually submit to the Department of Human Services its list of accredited Level I, II, III and IV trauma centers with updates as necessary. The list shall include all Level I and Level II trauma centers as specified under this chapter. (July 2, 2019, P.L.359…

(a) Distribution.--Beginning fiscal year 2008-2009 and each year thereafter, the Department of Human Services shall distribute annually, from available funds appropriated for this purpose, a supplemental payment to each accredited Level I or Level II trauma center or each Level I…

A hospital that receives funds under section 8107.3 (relating to funding) shall notify the department, the foundation and the Department of Human Services of its intent to cease operation of its trauma center no later than 60 days prior to closure of that trauma center. (July 2, …

(a) General rule.--On March 1, 2011, and annually thereafter, the Department of Human Services shall report to the Health and Human Services Committee of the Senate and the Health Committee of the House of Representatives on the trauma centers funded under section 8107.3 (relatin…

(a) Certification.--Before funds are provided, a trauma center qualifying for funds under section 8107.3 (relating to funding) shall certify that the funds are intended to be used for developing and providing for the availability of and access to trauma care for patients. (b) Rep…

(a) Designation and composition.--The board shall be composed of volunteer, professional and paraprofessional organizations involved in EMS. The board shall be geographically representative of the provider organizations that represent EMS providers, firefighters, regional EMS cou…

(a) Purpose.--Regional EMS councils shall assist the department in carrying out the provisions of this chapter. Each regional EMS council shall adhere to policy direction from the department. (b) Organization.--For purposes of this chapter, the organizational structure of a regio…

(a) Preparation.-- (1) The department, with the assistance of the board, shall prepare a Statewide EMS system plan, which plan shall include both short-range and long-range goals and objectives, and shall make the plan available to the General Assembly and all concerned agencies,…

(a) General power.--The department may enter into contracts or grants with entities to serve as regional EMS councils responsible for the initiation, expansion, maintenance and improvement of regional EMS systems that are in accordance with the Statewide EMS system plan. (b) Limi…

(a) Utilization.--Except as provided under subsection (d), money transferred under 3 Pa.C.S. § 1113(a)(4) (relating to disposition of certain funds) shall be utilized by the department's Bureau of Emergency Medical Services to: (1) Issue scholarships to EMS providers who complete…

(a) Certification.--The department shall issue certifications for the following types of EMS providers, which shall be permanent, subject to disciplinary action pursuant to section 8121 (relating to certification sanctions): (1) Emergency medical responder. (2) Emergency medical …

(a) Scope of practice.--An EMR performs for an EMS agency BLS skills involving basic interventions with minimum EMS equipment as follows: (1) As a member of a QRS to stabilize and improve a patient's condition in an out-of-hospital emergency until a higher-level EMS provider arri…

(a) Scope of practice.--An EMT performs basic EMS skills involving basic interventions and equipment found on an EMS vehicle as follows: (1) For an EMS agency as a member of the crew of an ambulance. (2) For an EMS agency as a member of a QRS to stabilize and improve a patient's …

(a) Scope of practice.--An advanced EMT performs basic EMS and ALS skills which include interventions and administration of medications with basic and advanced equipment found on an EMS vehicle as follows: (1) For an EMS agency as a member of the crew of an ambulance. (2) For an …

(a) Scope of practice.--A paramedic is a higher-level EMS provider than an advanced EMT. A paramedic performs basic and advanced EMS skills which include interventions and administration of medications with basic and advanced equipment found on an EMS vehicle as follows: (1) For …

(a) Scope of practice.--A PHRN is a higher-level EMS provider than an advanced EMT. A PHRN performs for an EMS agency basic and advanced EMS skills and, as authorized by the department, additional nursing skills within the scope of practice of a registered nurse under the act of …

(a) Scope of practice.--A PHPE is a higher-level EMS provider than an advanced EMT. A PHPE performs for an EMS agency basic and advanced EMS skills and, as authorized by regulation of the department, additional physician assistant skills within the scope of practice of a physicia…

(a) Scope of practice.--A prehospital EMS physician is a higher-level EMS provider than an advanced EMT. A prehospital EMS physician performs for an EMS agency basic and advanced EMS skills within the scope of practice of a physician under the act of December 20, 1985 (P.L.457, N…

(a) Grounds for discipline.--The department may discipline an EMS provider or applicant for EMS provider certification for any of the following reasons: (1) Lack of physical or mental ability to provide adequate services. (2) Deceptive or fraudulent procurement or representation …

(a) Certification.--An EMS vehicle operator certification shall be permanent, subject to disciplinary action under this section. The department shall certify as an EMS vehicle operator a person who meets all of the following: (1) Completes an application for an EMS vehicle operat…

(a) Temporary suspensions.--The department may temporarily suspend the certification of an EMS provider or EMS vehicle operator without a hearing if the department determines that the person is a clear and immediate danger to the public health and safety. Notice to a provider or …

(a) Certification.--An EMS instructor's certification is permanently subject to disciplinary action under this section. The department shall certify as an EMS instructor a person who: (1) Completes an application for an EMS instructor's certification on a form or through an elect…

(a) Qualifications.--To qualify and continue to function as an EMS agency medical director, an individual shall: (1) Be a physician. (2) Satisfy one of the following: (i) Have successfully completed an emergency medicine residency program accredited by a residency program accredi…

(a) Role of medical command physician.--A medical command physician communicates with and issues medical command orders to EMS providers when they seek direction. A medical command physician shall have an arrangement with a medical command facility to provide medical command on i…

(a) Certification required.--To operate as a medical command facility, a medical unit must be certified by the department as a medical command facility. The department shall issue a certification to each medical unit that operated as a medical command facility immediately prior t…

(a) Purpose.--A receiving facility is a facility to which an ambulance may transport a patient who requires prompt medical care in addition to that provided by the ambulance crew after the crew responds to an emergency. (b) Requirements.--A receiving facility shall include, but n…

(a) License required.--A person may not, as an owner, agent or otherwise, operate, conduct, maintain, advertise or otherwise engage in or profess to be engaged in operating or providing an ambulance, advanced life support squad vehicle, basic life support squad vehicle, quick res…

(a) Purpose.--An ALS ambulance crew provides medical assessment, triage, monitoring, treatment, transportation and observation of patients who require EMS above the skill level of an advanced EMT. (b) Staffing requirements.-- (1) Except as otherwise provided in this section, mini…

(a) Purpose.--An air ambulance is a rotorcraft staffed by a crew that provides medical assessment, treatment, monitoring, observation and transportation of patients who require EMS where time to administer definitive care is of the essence and transportation by air ambulance to a…

(a) Purpose.--An ALS squad vehicle transports EMS providers above the advanced EMT level, along with equipment and supplies, to rendezvous with an ambulance crew or to respond prior to arrival of an ambulance, in order to provide medical assessment, monitoring, treatment and obse…

(a) Purpose.--A BLS ambulance crew provides medical assessment, triage, monitoring, treatment, transportation and observation of patients who require EMS at or below the skill level of an advanced EMT and also transports patients who require EMS above the skill level of an advanc…

(a) Purpose.--A BLS squad vehicle transports an EMS provider, along with basic EMS equipment and supplies, to respond prior to arrival of an ambulance in order to provide EMS at or below the advanced EMT level of care. A BLS squad vehicle is not utilized to transport patients. (b…

(a) Purpose.--A QRS uses EMS providers to respond to calls for EMS and provide EMS to patients before an ambulance arrives. (b) Staffing requirements.--The minimum staffing requirement for a QRS is one EMS provider. Effective Date. Section 9(1) of Act 37 of 2009 provided that sec…

(a) Purpose.--A special operations EMS service provides EMS in situations or austere environments that require specialized knowledge, equipment or vehicles to access a patient or address the patient's emergency medical needs. The department shall by regulation provide for specifi…

(a) Purpose.--An EMS agency may provide EMS at industrial sites, amusement parks or other locations in need of the service. No ambulance or other EMS vehicle shall be required for this purpose. (b) Staffing.--The minimum staffing requirement is one EMS provider. (c) Other require…

The department may by regulation prescribe EMS vehicle and service standards for EMS vehicles and services not specified in this chapter. If the department establishes standards in this section, an EMS agency license shall be required to operate the EMS vehicle or provide the ser…

(a) Stretcher vehicle.--A stretcher vehicle is a ground vehicle other than an ambulance that is utilized to transport by stretcher persons who do not receive and cannot reasonably be anticipated to require medical assessment, monitoring, treatment or observation during transporta…

When an EMS agency or an applicant for a license to operate as an EMS agency does not provide service 24 hours per day and seven days per week or is unable to participate in a county-level or broader-level emergency medical response plan approved by the department, the department…

(a) Correction of violation.--Upon determining that an EMS agency has violated this chapter or regulations promulgated under this chapter, the department may issue a written notice to the EMS agency specifying the violation or violations that have been found. The notice shall req…

(a) Grounds for discipline.--The department may discipline an EMS agency or, as applicable, refuse to issue an EMS agency license for any of the following reasons: (1) Violating the requirements of this chapter or regulation adopted under this chapter. (2) Failing to submit a pla…

The following shall apply: (1) No medical command physician, medical command facility medical director or medical command facility, which in good faith provides a medical command to an EMS provider or student enrolled in an EMS course of instruction approved by the department, sh…

(a) Immunity from liability.-- (1) A person who provides information to a review organization shall have the same protections from civil and criminal liability as a person who provides information to a review organization under the act of July 20, 1974 (P.L.564, No.193), known as…