2010 Pennsylvania Code
Title 35 - HEALTH AND SAFETY
Chapter 81 - Emergency Medical Services System
8109 - Regional emergency medical services councils.

     § 8109.  Regional emergency medical services councils.
        (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 regional EMS council shall be
     representative of the public, health professions and major
     private and public voluntary agencies, organizations and
     institutions concerned with providing EMS in the region and
     shall be one of the following:
            (1)  A unit of general local government, with an advisory
        council, meeting requirements for representation.
            (2)  A representative public entity administering a
        compact or other areawide arrangement or consortium.
            (3)  Any other public or private nonprofit entity that
        meets requirements for representation as determined by the
        department.
        (c)  Duties.--Each regional EMS council shall, if directed by
     the department:
            (1)  Assist the department in achieving the Statewide and
        regional EMS system components and goals described under
        section 8104 (relating to emergency medical services system
        programs).
            (2)  Assist the department in the collection and
        maintenance of standardized data and information as provided
        in section 8106 (relating to emergency medical services
        patient care reports).
            (3)  Prepare, annually review and revise, as needed, a
        regional EMS system plan for the EMS region the department
        has designated and for which the department has contracted or
        provided a grant to it to serve.
            (4)  Carry out, to the extent feasible, the Statewide and
        regional EMS system plans.
            (5)  Assure the reasonable availability of training and
        continuing education programs for EMS providers.
            (6)  Provide necessary and reasonable staff services and
        appropriate and convenient office facilities that can serve
        as the EMS region's location for the planning, maintenance
        and coordinative and evaluative functions of the council.
            (7)  Establish a mechanism to provide for input from
        facilities and EMS agencies in the EMS region in decisions
        that include, but are not limited to, membership on its
        governing body.
            (8)  Establish, subject to department approval, regional
        EMS triage, treatment and transportation protocols consistent
        with Statewide protocols adopted by the department. A
        regional EMS council may also establish, subject to
        department approval, additional triage, treatment and
        transportation protocols. No regional protocol shall be
        subject to the rulemaking process.
            (9)  Advise public safety answering points and municipal
        and county governments as to the EMS resources available for
        dispatching and recommend dispatch criteria that may be
        developed by the department or the council as approved by the
        department.
            (10)  Assist the department in achieving a unified
        Statewide EMS system.
            (11)  Designate a regional EMS medical director and
        establish a medical advisory committee and a quality
        improvement committee.
            (12)  Develop a conflict of interest policy, subject to
        department approval, and require its board or advisory
        council members, officials and employees to agree to the
        policy in writing.
            (13)  Perform other duties assigned by the department to
        assist the department in carrying out the requirements of
        this chapter.
        (d)  Regional EMS medical directors.--The department shall
     consult with the regional EMS medical directors in developing
     and adopting EMS protocols and may consult with them on any
     matter involved in the department's administration of this
     chapter.

        Cross References.  Section 8109 is referred to in sections
     8111, 8128 of this title.