Chapter 31. Virginia Emergency Medical Services Regulations

EMS personnel may not possess, remove, use or administer any controlled substances, drug delivery devices or other regulated medical devices from any EMS agency, EMS vehicle, health care facility, academic institution or other location without proper authorization. Statutory Auth…

EMS personnel may not discriminate in the provision of emergency medical services based on race, gender, religion, age, national origin, medical condition or any other reason. Statutory Authority§§ 32.1-12 and 32.1-111.4 of the Code of Virginia.

EMS personnel may not engage in sexual harassment. Sexual harassment includes making unwelcome sexual advances, requesting sexual favors, and engaging in other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature as a condition of: 1. The provision or denial of emergency medical care to…

A. EMS personnel as defined in § 54.1-3408 of the Code of Virginia may only provide emergency medical care while acting under the authority of the operational medical director for the EMS agency for which they are affiliated and within the scope of the EMS agency license. Privile…

EMS personnel shall only perform those procedures, skills, or techniques for which he is currently licensed or certified, provided that he is acting in accordance with local medical treatment protocols and medical direction provided by the OMD of the licensed EMS agency with whic…

(Repealed.)

In the event of an immediate threat to loss of life or limb, medical control may authorize an EMS provider with specific training to provide care not authorized under existing protocol. The circumstances must be documented on the patient care report. Statutory Authority§§ 32.1-12…

In the following circumstances, EMS personnel may refuse to perform specific procedures or treatments, provided medical control is informed of the refusal and the refusal of care is documented on the prehospital patient care report: 1. If not adequately trained and proficient to …

A decision not to treat or transport a patient shall be fully documented on the prehospital patient care report. Statutory Authority§§ 32.1-12 and 32.1-111.4 of the Code of Virginia.

A. The board is authorized to grant exemptions from any part or all of these regulations in accordance with the procedures set forth herein. An exemption permits specified or total exceptions to these regulations for an indefinite period. B. Request. A person may file a written r…

A. Whenever care is rendered without first obtaining consent, the circumstances shall be documented on the prehospital patient care report. B. Refusal of care must be obtained and documented on the prehospital patient care report. Statutory Authority§§ 32.1-12 and 32.1-111.4 of t…

EMS personnel may not leave a patient in need of emergency medical care without first providing for a level of care capable of meeting the assessed and documented needs of the patient's condition is present and available or a refusal is obtained. Statutory Authority§§ 32.1-12 and…

In the event that responding EMS personnel at the scene of a medical emergency have made differing assessments as to a patient's treatment needs or transport destination, medical control shall be contacted to resolve the conflict. Statutory Authority§§ 32.1-12 and 32.1-111.4 of t…

During transportation, the patient shall be attended in the patient compartment of the vehicle by the required attendant-in-charge. Where additional attendants are required by these regulations, they must attend the patient in the patient compartment of the vehicle during transpo…

EMS personnel and EMS agencies shall provide the receiving medical facility or transporting EMS agency with a copy of the prehospital patient care report for each patient treated at the time of patient transfer. Should EMS personnel be unable to provide the full prehospital patie…

EMS personnel are only authorized to operate an EMS vehicle under emergency conditions, as allowed by § 46.2-920 of the Code of Virginia: 1. When responding to medical emergencies for which they have been dispatched or have witnessed. 2. When transporting patients to a hospital o…

EMS personnel who have not been specifically requested to respond to a call may assist a responding EMS agency at the scene of a medical emergency if the provider is licensed or certified to provide a level of care at the scene that is required to meet the assessed needs of the p…

An EMS agency providing resources, certified personnel, permitted vehicles, or equipment as a result of an Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), or any other out-of-state mutual aid request shall notify OEMS upon commitment of…

A student enrolled in an approved EMS certification training program may perform the clinical skills and functions of EMS personnel who are certified at the level of the course of instruction while participating in clinical and field internship training as provided for in these r…

An EMS agency shall provide for an adequate number of trained or certified EMS personnel to perform all essential tasks necessary for provision of timely and appropriate patient care on all calls to which the EMS agency responds. 1. A responding EMS vehicle shall be staffed with …

An attendant-in-charge shall be authorized by the EMS agency's OMD to use all skills and equipment required for his level of certification and the type of transport to be performed. Statutory Authority§§ 32.1-12 and 32.1-111.4 of the Code of Virginia.

Upon receipt of a request for an exemption, the Office of EMS will cause notice of such request to be posted on the Office of EMS section of the Virginia Department of Health's website.Statutory Authority§§ 32.1-12 and 32.1-111.4 of the Code of Virginia.

A. EMS personnel serving in a required staffing position on an EMS vehicle shall be at a minimum 18 years of age. B. An EMS agency may allow assistants or observers in addition to the required personnel. An assistant or observer must be at a minimum 16 years of age. Statutory Aut…

At a minimum, one person may satisfy both of the following requirements: 1. An operator shall at a minimum possess a valid motor vehicle operator's permit issued by Virginia or another state and have successfully completed an approved emergency vehicle operator's course (EVOC) tr…

Advanced life support equipment may be transferred from one EMS vehicle to another EMS vehicle not otherwise equipped to provide the needed level of ALS. When this equipment is transferred, the EMS vehicle shall have required EMS personnel in compliance with these regulations. St…

A ground ambulance transport requires a minimum of two persons: 1. An operator shall at a minimum possess a valid motor vehicle operator's permit issued by Virginia or another state and have successfully completed an approved Emergency Vehicle Operator's Course (EVOC) training co…

During a basic life support transport, the attendant-in-charge must be certified as an emergency medical technician or an equivalent approved by the Office of EMS. Statutory Authority§§ 32.1-12 and 32.1-111.4 of the Code of Virginia.

Advanced life support transport requirements: 1. A ground ambulance equipped with an ALS equipment package. An ALS equipment package may be transferred to a ground ambulance not otherwise equipped to provide the needed level of ALS patient care from another appropriately equipped…

A. Supplemented transports require the following: 1. An ambulance equipped with an ALS intermediate/paramedic equipment package; 2. A determination by the sending physician that the patient's medically necessary care exceeds the scope of practice of available personnel certified …

A. If a ground ambulance is utilized to perform an interfacility neonatal transport, the vehicle must be equipped with the additional items listed in 12VAC5-31-860 C, D 3, and D 5 and staffed in compliance with this section. B. A minimum of three persons is required: 1. An operat…

(Repealed.)

(Repealed.)

If the board determines that there is substantial public interest in a request for an exemption, a public hearing may be held. Statutory Authority§§ 32.1-12 and 32.1-111.4 of the Code of Virginia.

(Repealed.)

Article 1 Certification Levels This section will expire on October 10, 2016. The certification is issued for a period of four years from the end of the month of issuance.Statutory Authority§§ 32.1-12 and 32.1-111.4 of the Code of Virginia.Derived from Virginia Register Volume 29,…

The certification is issued for a period of four years from the end of the month of issuance.Statutory Authority§§ 32.1-12 and 32.1-111.4 of the Code of Virginia.

(Repealed.)

The certification is issued for a period of four years from the end of the month of issuance.Statutory Authority§§ 32.1-12 and 32.1-111.4 of the Code of Virginia.

(Repealed.)

This section will expire on April 10, 2016. A. The certification is issued for a period of three years from the end of the month of issuance. B. An EMS provider who possesses a valid EMT-E certification is simultaneously issued an EMT certification for an additional two years aft…

(Repealed.)

A. The certification is issued for a period of three years from the end of the month of issuance. B. An EMS provider who possesses a valid Intermediate certification is simultaneously issued an EMT certification for an additional two years after his Intermediate expiration.Statut…

A. The certification is issued for a period of three years from the end of the month of issuance, B. An EMS provider who possesses a valid AEMT certification is simultaneously issued an EMT certification for an additional two years after his Advanced AEMT expiration.Statutory Aut…

(Repealed.)

A. The certification is issued for a period of three years from the end of the month of issuance. B. An EMS provider who possesses a valid Paramedic certification is simultaneously issued an EMT certification for an additional two years after his Paramedic expiration.Statutory Au…

(Repealed.)

This section will expire on October 10, 2016. A. The certification is valid for a period of two years from the end of the month of issuance. B. An EMS provider who possesses a valid instructor certification is simultaneously issued an EMT certification valid for an additional two…