Title 44, Health

A certified emergency medical technician may perform any function consistent with his certification, according to guidelines and regulations that the board may prescribe. Emergency medical technicians, trained to provide advanced life support and possessing current Department of …

This article must not be construed as limiting presently operating rescue units from utilizing their existing equipment and performing the functions they are now allowed to do so long as they do not conflict with licensed agencies contained in Section 44-61-40(A).

(A) The identities of patients and emergency medical technicians mentioned, referenced, or otherwise appearing in information and data collected or prepared by emergency medical services must be treated as confidential. The identities of these persons are not available to the pub…

As used in this article, and unless otherwise specified, the term: (1) "Ambulance" means a vehicle maintained or operated by a licensed provider who has obtained the necessary permits and licenses for the transportation of persons who are sick, injured, wounded, or otherwise inca…

(A) The Department of Health and Environmental Control, with the advice of the Emergency Medical Services Advisory Council and the State Medical Control Physician, shall develop standards and promulgate regulations for the improvement of emergency medical services (hereinafter re…

This article may be cited as the "Children's Emergency Medical Services Act".

As used in this article: (1) "Advanced life support" means an advanced level of prehospital, interhospital, and emergency service care which includes basic life support functions, cardiac monitoring, cardiac defibrillation, telemetered electrocardiography, administration of antia…

There is established within the Department of Health and Environmental Control, Division of Emergency Medical Services, the Emergency Medical Services and Trauma for Children Program.

(A) The EMSC Program must include, but is not limited to, the establishment of: (1) initial and continuing education programs for emergency medical services personnel that include training in the emergency care of infants and children; (2) guidelines for referring children to the…

(A) The identities of patients and emergency medical technicians mentioned, referenced, or otherwise appearing in information or data collected or prepared by the EMSC Program must be treated as confidential. The identities of these persons are not available to the public under t…

(A) There is established the Emergency Medical Services for Children Advisory Committee to advise the department on matters concerning preventative, prehospital, hospital, rehabilitative, and other post-hospital medical care for children. (B) Committee members must be appointed b…

(A) A person, firm, corporation, association, county, district, municipality, or metropolitan government or agency, either as owner, agent, or otherwise, may not furnish, operate, conduct, maintain, advertise, or otherwise engage in or profess to engage in the business or service…

A vehicle must not be operated as an ambulance, unless its licensed owner applies for and receives an ambulance permit issued by the department for that vehicle. Prior to issuing an original permit for an ambulance, the vehicle for which the permit is issued shall meet all requir…

As used in this article: (1) "Department" means the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control. (2) "Designation" means a formal determination by the department that a hospital or health care facility is capable of providing a specified level of trauma care ser…

(A) The Department of Health and Environmental Control, with the advice of the Trauma Advisory Council, established pursuant to Section 44-61-530, may develop standards and promulgate regulations for the creation and establishment of a State Trauma Care System to promote access t…

(A) There is established the Trauma Advisory Council composed of, but not limited to, the following members to be appointed by the director of the department for terms of three years and members may be reappointed: (1) a surgeon who oversees trauma care at each designated level, …

(A) There is created the South Carolina State Trauma Care Fund. In addition to those monies appropriated to the fund in the general appropriations act, the fund may receive gifts, bequests, grants, fees, or other contributions or donations from public or private entities. (B) The…

(A) The department may establish a trauma data collection and evaluation system, known as the "Trauma Registry". The Trauma Registry must be designed to include, but must not be limited to, trauma studies, patient care and outcomes, compliance with standards of verification, and …

(A) Such equipment as deemed necessary by the department must be required of organizations applying for ambulance permits. Each licensee of an ambulance shall comply with regulations as may be promulgated by the board and shall maintain in each ambulance, when it is in use as suc…

This article may be cited as the "Stroke System of Care Act of 2011" and is based on recommendations of the Stroke System of Care Study Committee provided for in Act 121 of 2009.

The General Assembly finds that: (1) An effective system to support optimal stroke care is needed in our communities in order to treat stroke patients in a timely manner, improve the overall treatment of stroke patients, increase survival, and decrease the disabilities associated…

As used in this article: (1) "Department" means the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control. (2) "Director" means the Director of the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control. (3) "Joint Commission" means the Joint Commission, formerly k…

(A) The director shall identify hospitals that meet the criteria set forth in this article as primary stroke centers and stroke enabled centers through telemedicine. (B) The department shall establish a process to recognize as "primary stroke centers" as many accredited acute car…

Organizations applying for emergency medical responder licensure must comply with equipment, training, and certification standards and other requirements promulgated by the department in regulation.

(A) There is established a Stroke System of Care Advisory Council to be appointed by the director of the department. Representation on the council must be as geographically diverse as possible and composed of, but not limited to, knowledgeable and experienced individuals from the…

(A)(1) The department, before June first of each year, shall distribute the list of primary stroke centers, stroke enabled centers through telemedicine, and other centers that meet the criteria for disease-specific certification or accreditation programs as they become available …

(A) The department, in consultation with the Stroke System of Care Advisory Council, shall: (1) provide assistance for sharing information and data among health care providers on ways to improve the quality of care; (2) facilitate the communication and analysis of health informat…

This article is not a medical practice guideline and may not be used to restrict the authority of a hospital to provide services for which it has received a license under state law. The General Assembly intends that all patients be treated individually, based on each patient's ne…

(A) The department has the authority to promulgate regulations to carry out the purposes of this article. (B) All of the department's duties pursuant to this article are contingent upon adequate funding to cover the department's operating and administrative costs and upon the pro…

(A) The department may enforce rules, regulations, and standards promulgated pursuant to this article. An enforcement action taken by the department may be appealed pursuant to Article 3, Chapter 23, Title 1. (B) Grounds for an enforcement action against an authorization, license…

In order to protect the public through verification of competency and ensure accountability for patient care-related activities all states license emergency medical services (EMS) personnel, such as emergency medical technicians (EMTs), advanced EMTs and paramedics. This compact …

For purposes of this article: (1) "Advanced emergency medical technician" or "AEMT" means an individual licensed with cognitive knowledge and a scope of practice that corresponds to that level in the National EMS Education Standards and National EMS Scope of Practice Model. (2) "…

(A) Any member state in which an individual holds a current license shall be deemed a home state for purposes of this compact. (B) Any member state may require an individual to obtain and retain a license to be authorized to practice in the member state under circumstances not au…

(A) Member states shall recognize the privilege to practice of an individual licensed in another member state that is in conformance with Section 44-61-730. (B) To exercise the privilege to practice under the terms and provisions of this compact, an individual must: (1) be at lea…

An individual may practice in a remote state under a privilege to practice only in the performance of the individual's EMS duties as assigned by an appropriate authority, as defined in the rules of the Commission, and under the following circumstances: (1) the individual originat…

Upon a member state's governor's declaration of a state of emergency or disaster that activates the Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC), all relevant terms and provisions of EMAC shall apply and to the extent any terms or provisions of this compact conflicts with EMAC,…

(A) Member states shall consider a veteran, active military service member, and member of the National Guard and Reserves separating from an active duty tour, and a spouse thereof, who holds a current valid and unrestricted NREMT certification at or above the level of the state l…

(A) A home state shall have exclusive power to impose adverse action against an individual's license issued by the home state. (B)(1) If an individual's license in any home state is restricted or suspended, the individual shall not be eligible to practice in a remote state under …

A member state's EMS authority, in addition to any other powers granted under state law, is authorized under this compact to: (1) issue subpoenas for both hearings and investigations that require the attendance and testimony of witnesses and the production of evidence. Subpoenas …

(A) All ambulance attendants shall obtain a valid emergency medical technician certificate unless an exception is granted pursuant to regulations promulgated by the department. A person who provides patient care that is within the scope of an emergency medical technician without …

(A)(1) The compact states hereby create and establish a joint public agency known as the Interstate Commission for EMS Personnel Practice. (2) The Commission is a body politic and an instrumentality of the compact states. (3) Venue is proper and judicial proceedings by or against…

(A) The Commission shall provide for the development and maintenance of a coordinated database and reporting system containing licensure, adverse action, and significant investigatory information on all licensed individuals in member states. (B) Notwithstanding any other provisio…

(A) The Commission shall exercise its rulemaking powers pursuant to the criteria set forth in this section and the rules adopted thereunder. Rules and amendments shall become binding as of the date specified in each rule or amendment. (B) If a majority of the legislatures of the …

(A)(1) The executive, legislative, and judicial branches of state government in each member state shall enforce this compact and take all actions necessary and appropriate to effectuate the compact's purposes and intent. (2) All courts shall take judicial notice of the compact an…

(A) The compact shall come into effect on the date on which the compact statute is enacted into law in the tenth-member state. The provisions, which become effective at that time, shall be limited to the powers granted to the Commission relating to assembly and the promulgation o…

This compact shall be liberally construed so as to effectuate the purposes thereof. If this compact shall be held contrary to the constitution of any member state thereto, the compact shall remain in full force and effect as to the remaining member states. Nothing in this compact…