2010 Pennsylvania Code
Title 35 - HEALTH AND SAFETY
Chapter 81 - Emergency Medical Services System
8125 - Medical director of emergency medical services agency.

     § 8125.  Medical director of emergency medical services agency.
        (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 accrediting body recognized by the State Board of
            Medicine or the State Board of Osteopathic Medicine.
                (ii)  Have successfully completed a residency program
            in surgery, internal medicine, family medicine,
            pediatrics or anesthesiology, accredited by a residency
            program accrediting body recognized by the State Board of
            Medicine or the State Board of Osteopathic Medicine. The
            physician shall also have successfully completed or
            taught an advanced cardiac life support course acceptable
            to the department within the preceding two years and have
            completed, at least once, an advanced trauma life support
            course acceptable to the department and an advanced
            pediatric life support course acceptable to the
            department or other programs determined by the department
            to meet or exceed the standards of these programs.
                (iii)  Have served as an advanced life support
            service medical director under the act of July 3, 1985
            (P.L.164, No.45), known as the Emergency Medical Services
            Act, prior to the effective date of this chapter.
            (3)  Have a valid Drug Enforcement Agency number.
            (4)  Have completed the EMS agency medical director's
        course, an EMS fellowship or other EMS training program that
        is determined by the department to be equivalent. This
        training shall assure that the EMS agency medical director
        has knowledge of:
                (i)  The scope of practice of EMS providers.
                (ii)  The provision of EMS pursuant to department-
            approved protocols.
                (iii)  The interface between EMS providers and
            medical command physicians.
                (iv)  Quality improvement principles.
                (v)  Emergency medical dispatch principles and EMS
            agency communication capabilities.
                (vi)  EMS system design and operation.
                (vii)  Federal and State laws and regulations
            regarding EMS.
                (viii)  Regional and State mass casualty and disaster
            plans.
        (b)  Roles and responsibilities.--An EMS agency medical
     director is responsible for the following:
            (1)  Reviewing department-approved EMS protocols that are
        applicable to the EMS agency and ensuring that its EMS
        providers and other relevant personnel are familiar with the
        protocols applicable to them.
            (2)  Conducting for and reporting to the EMS agency the
        following:
                (i)  An initial assessment of an EMS provider at or
            above the advanced EMT level to determine whether the EMS
            provider has demonstrated competency in the knowledge and
            skills one must have to competently perform the skills
            within the scope of practice of the EMS provider at that
            level and a commitment to adequately perform other
            functions relevant to the EMS provider providing EMS at
            that level. This subparagraph does not apply if the EMS
            provider was working for the EMS agency at the same level
            prior to the physician becoming the medical director for
            the EMS agency and the EMS provider was credentialed at
            that EMS agency within the last year as being able to
            perform at the EMS provider's certification level.
                (ii)  At least annually, an assessment of each EMS
            provider at or above the advanced EMT level as to whether
            the EMS provider has demonstrated competency in the
            knowledge and skills an EMS provider must have to
            competently perform the skills within the scope of
            practice of the EMS provider at that level and a
            commitment to adequately perform other functions relevant
            to the EMS provider providing EMS at that level.
            (3)  Participating in and reviewing quality improvement
        reviews of patient care provided by the EMS agency and
        participating in the Statewide and regional quality
        improvement program.
            (4)  Providing medical guidance and advice to the EMS
        agency.
            (5)  Providing guidance with respect to the ordering,
        stocking and replacement of drugs and compliance with laws
        and regulations impacting upon the EMS agency's acquisition,
        storage and use of those drugs.
            (6)  Maintaining a liaison with the regional EMS medical
        director.
            (7)  Recommending to the department suspension,
        revocation or restriction of EMS provider's certifications.
            (8)  Reviewing regional mass casualty and disaster plans.
            (9)  Performing other functions as the department may
        impose by regulation.

        References in Text.  The act of July 3, 1985 (P.L.164,
     No.45), known as the Emergency Medical Serivces Act, referred to
     in subsec. (a) was repealed by the act of August 18, 2009
     (P.L.308, No.37). The subject matter is now contained in Chapter
     81.
        Cross References.  Section 8125 is referred to in sections
     8113, 8129 of this title.