Washington Administrative Code

(1) To recertify using the OTEP method, an EMS provider must complete a county MPD and department-approved OTEP that meets requirements in WAC 246-976-026, 246-976-161, and this section. Due to the competency-based nature of OTEP, fewer class hours may be required to complete the…

(1) An EMS provider may not provide care with an expired certification.(2) To apply for recertification, reversion, reissuance, or reinstatement, an applicant must meet the requirements for the appropriate process described in this section. Applicants must:(a) Submit a completed …

(1) Certified EMS personnel are only authorized to provide patient care:(a) When performing:(i) In a prehospital emergency setting; or(ii) During interfacility ambulance transport; or(iii) When participating in a community assistance education and referral (CARES) program authori…

(1) The secretary is the disciplining authority under RCW 18.130.040 (2)(a).(2) Modification, suspension, revocation, or denial of certification will be consistent with the requirements of the Administrative Procedure Act (chapter 34.05 RCW), the Uniform Disciplinary Act (chapter…

(1) The secretary licenses ambulance and aid services and vehicles to provide service that is consistent with the state plan and approved regional plans.(2) The secretary may extend the licensing period to accommodate efficient processing of renewal applications. The expiration d…

(1) An emergency services supervisory organization (ESSO) is defined in RCW 18.73.030 and is an organization recognized by the secretary to use certified EMS providers.(2) An ESSO must be one of the following organization types:(a) Federal, state, county, or municipal law enforce…

(1) The secretary may suspend, modify, or revoke an agency's license or verification issued under this chapter. The secretary may deny licensure or verification to an applicant when it finds:(a) Failure to comply with the requirements of chapters 18.71, 18.73, 70.168 RCW, or RCW …

(1) All ground ambulance vehicles that are used to transport patients must meet the minimum standards in this chapter. Ambulance vehicles that meet a national ground ambulance standard recognized by the department are deemed to have met the minimum standards in this section.(2) E…

(1) Licensed and verified ground ambulance, aid services, and emergency services supervisory organizations (ESSO) must provide equipment listed in Table A of this section on each licensed vehicle or to their on-site EMS providers for the service levels they are approved by the de…

(1) Licensed ground ambulance and aid services must provide each licensed ambulance and aid vehicle with communication equipment which:(a) Is consistent with state and regional plans;(b) Is in good working order;(c) Allows direct two-way communication with dispatch control point,…

The purpose of this rule is to ensure the consistent quality of medical care delivered by air ambulance services in the state of Washington.(1) An air ambulance service operating in the state of Washington must:(a) Be licensed by the department in compliance with this section unl…

(1) Each ambulance and aid service must:(a) Maintain a record of certifications and endorsements of all personnel;(b) Periodically audit certifications to assure they are current and active;(c) Maintain a record of nonmedically trained drivers used by the service and relevant rec…

(1) The department may conduct periodic, unannounced inspections of licensed ambulances and aid vehicles and services.(2) If the service is also verified in accordance with WAC 246-976-390, the department will include a review for compliance with verification standards as part of…

(1) The secretary licenses organ transport services and vehicles. To become licensed an applicant shall:(a) Comply with RCW 18.73.290;(b) Submit a completed application on forms provided by the department; and(c) Meet the minimum organ transport vehicle standards in subsection (2…

Verified EMS services must:(1) Provide initial training and updates to certified EMS personnel on department-approved prehospital triage procedures, regional patient care procedures, county operating procedures, county medical program director policies and patient care protocols;…

(1) The secretary verifies prehospital EMS services to provide service that is consistent with the state plan and approved regional plans. Verification is a higher form of licensure that requires 24-hour, seven day a week compliance with the standards outlined in chapter 70.168 R…

If the department finds that a verified prehospital trauma care service is out of compliance with verification standards:(1) The department shall promptly notify in writing: The service, the MPD, and the local and regional EMS/TC councils.(2) Within thirty days of the department'…

(1) Purpose: The department maintains a trauma registry, as required by RCW 70.168.060 and 70.168.090. The purpose of this registry is to:(a) Provide data for trauma surveillance, analysis, and prevention programs;(b) Monitor and evaluate the outcome of care of trauma patients, i…

(1) A trauma care provider shall protect the confidentiality of data in their possession and as it is transferred to the department.(2) A verified prehospital agency that transports trauma patients must:(a) Provide an initial report of patient care to the receiving facility at th…

(1) Purpose: The department maintains a statewide electronic emergency medical services data system, as required by RCW 70.168.090. The purpose of this data system is to:(a) Provide data for EMS activity surveillance, analysis, and quality assurance programs;(b) Monitor and evalu…

(1) Licensed EMS services and certified EMS providers shall protect the confidentiality of data in their possession and as it is transferred to the receiving facility or the department.(2) The certified EMS provider in charge of patient care shall provide the following informatio…

The department designates health care facilities to provide adult and pediatric acute care trauma services ("trauma services") and adult and pediatric trauma rehabilitation services ("trauma rehabilitation services") as part of the statewide emergency medical services and trauma …

WAC 246-976-700 Trauma Service StandardsAdult LevelsPediatric LevelsA facility with a designated trauma service must have:IIIIIIIVVI PII PIII P(1) A written trauma scope of service outlining the trauma care resources and capabilities available twenty-four hours every day for:XXXX…

WAC 246-976-800 Trauma Rehabilitation Service StandardsLevelsA designated trauma rehabilitation service must:IIIIIII Pediatric(1) Be a licensed hospital as defined in chapter 246-320 WAC.X X(2) Treat adult and adolescent trauma patients in inpatient and outpatient settings regard…

Designated trauma services must:(1) Have written guidelines consistent with their written scope of trauma service to identify and transfer patients with special care needs exceeding the capabilities of the trauma service;(2) Have written transfer agreements with other designated …

(1) The department will:(a) Develop guidelines for a regional EMS/TC system quality assurance and improvement program including:(i) Purpose and principles of the program;(ii) Establishing and maintaining the program;(iii) Process;(iv) Membership of the quality assurance and impro…

(1) Qualifications - Applicants for certification as a county medical program director (MPD) must:(a) Hold and maintain a current and valid license to practice medicine and surgery under chapter 18.71 RCW or osteopathic medicine and surgery under chapter 18.57 RCW; and(b) Be qual…

In addition to the requirements described in chapters 18.71, 18.73, and 70.168 RCW, and elsewhere in this chapter:(1) The department shall review, recommend changes to, and approve regional plans and regional patient care procedures based on the requirements of this chapter and r…

RCW 70.168.040 establishes the emergency medical services and trauma care system trust account. With the advice of the EMS/TC steering committee, the department will develop a method to budget and distribute funds in the trust account. The department may use an injury severity sc…

In addition to the requirements of chapter 70.168 RCW and elsewhere in this chapter, the EMS/TC steering committee will:(1) Review and comment on the department's rules, policies, and standards;(2) Review and comment on the department's budget for the EMS/TC system at least bienn…

(1) Regional council composition and appointments. The department shall establish regional emergency medical services and trauma care councils (EMS/TC) and shall appoint members to be comprised of a balance of hospital and prehospital trauma care and emergency medical service pro…

(1) Local council composition. If a county or group of counties creates a local EMS/TC council, it must be composed of a balance of representatives of hospital and EMS providers, local elected officials, consumers, local law enforcement officials, local government agencies, physi…

(1) The department shall assess individual health care facilities submitting a proposal to be designated as a level I general trauma care facility a fee, not to exceed seven thousand dollars, to help defray the costs to the department of inspections and review of applications.(2)…

The Washington state department of health adopts this chapter to implement the provisions of chapter 70.245 RCW, the Washington Death with Dignity Act.[Statutory Authority: 2023 c 38 and chapter 70.245 RCW. WSR 23-17-071, § 246-978-001, filed 8/14/23, effective 9/14/23. Statutory…

In addition to the definitions contained in RCW 70.245.010, the following definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter unless the context clearly requires otherwise.(1) "Act" means the "Washington Death with Dignity Act" or Initiative Measure No. 1000 as adopted by t…

(1) To comply with the act, within 30 calendar days of writing a prescription for medication to end the life of a qualified patient, the attending qualified medical provider shall send the following completed documents to the department electronically, by mail, or fax:(a) The pat…

The definitions in this section and in RCW 74.39A.009 apply throughout this chapter unless the context clearly requires otherwise.(1) "Activities of daily living" means self-care abilities related to personal care such as bathing, body care, bed mobility, eating, locomotion, medi…

Any person who is hired on or after January 7, 2012, as a long-term care worker for the elderly or persons with disabilities, regardless of the employment title, must obtain certification as a home care aide, unless exempt under WAC 246-980-025. This includes, but is not limited …

(1) The following individuals are not required to obtain certification as a home care aide. If they choose to voluntarily become certified, they shall successfully pass the entry level training required by RCW 74.39A.074 and meet the requirements of WAC 246-980-040.(a) An individ…

(1) A long-term care worker may provide care before receiving certification as a home care aide if all the following conditions are met:(a) Before providing care, the long-term care worker must complete the training required by RCW 74.39A.074 (1)(d)(i)(A) and (B).(b) The long-ter…

To qualify for certification as a home care aide, the applicant shall:(1) Successfully complete all training required by RCW 74.39A.074(1) within 120 calendar days of the date of hire as a long-term care worker;(2) Successfully pass the home care aide certification examination, a…

(1) An applicant for certification as a home care aide shall submit to the department:(a) A completed application on forms provided by the department;(b) The required fees under WAC 246-980-990; and(c) A certificate of completion from an approved training program indicating that …

(1) The department may issue a provisional certification to a long-term care worker who is limited-English proficient and submits:(a) A request for a provisional certification; and(b) Verification of his or her date of hire as a long-term care worker, as follows:(i) For individua…

(1) The certification examination will consist of both a written knowledge test and a skills demonstration.(2) The certification examination will test the core competencies including, but not limited to:(a) Communication skills;(b) Worker self-care;(c) Problem solving;(d) Maintai…

(1) A home care aide shall demonstrate completion of 12 hours of continuing education per year as required by RCW 74.39A.341. The required continuing education must be obtained during the period between renewals. Continuing education is subject to the provisions of WAC 246-12-170…

(1) To renew a home care aide certification the practitioner shall:(a) Renew the certification every year by the home care aide's birthday as provided in WAC 246-12-020 through 246-12-051;(b) Submit a completed application as provided by the department; and(c) Provide verificatio…

(1) An applicant who has any criminal history may be denied certification or may be granted certification with conditions pursuant to RCW 18.130.055.(2) In determining whether to deny certification or grant certification with conditions due to an applicant's criminal history, the…

(1) A home care aide-certified may perform tasks delegated by a registered nurse for patients in community-based care settings or in-home care settings each as defined in RCW 18.79.260 (3)(e).(2) Before performing any delegated task a home care aide-certified must show the certif…

(1) A long-term care worker performs activities of daily living or activities of daily living and instrumental activities of daily living. A person performing only instrumental activities of daily living is not acting under the long-term care worker scope of practice.(a) "Activit…

(1) A long-term care worker must demonstrate behavior which maintains and respects client or resident rights and safety. This includes, but is not limited to, the following:(a) A long-term care worker may not solicit, accept or borrow money, material or property from a client or …