Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 1200-12-01-.18 - EMERGENCY MEDICAL DISPATCHER STANDARDS
(1) Definitions -
The terms used in this rule shall be defined as follows:
(a) Department - The Tennessee Department of
Health, Division of Emergency Medical Services.
(b) Emergency Medical Dispatcher (EMD) - An
individual certified by the Department as having successfully completed a
Department-approved Emergency Medical Dispatch Course.
(c) Emergency Medical Dispatch Priority
Reference System (EMDPRS) - A Department-approved protocol system used by a
dispatch agency to dispatch aid to medical emergencies which must include:
1. Systemized caller interrogation
questions;
2. Systemized
pre-arrival instructions; and
3.
Protocols matching the dispatcher's evaluation of injury or illness severity
with vehicle response mode and configuration.
(d) Medical Director - A person approved by
the Department who assumes medical leadership for the provision of emergency
medical services, including basic and/or advanced life support, and/or medical
dispatch services in the dispatch agency's geographical area.
(e) Pre-Arrival Instructions -
Telephone-rendered, medically approved, written instructions given by trained
EMDs through callers which help to provide aid to the victim and control of the
situation prior to the arrival of pre-hospital personnel. The dispatcher shall
adhere to the written wording as closely as possible.
(f) Vehicle Response Mode - The use of
emergency driving techniques, such as red-light and siren, versus routine
driving response.
(g) Vehicle
Response Configuration - The specific vehicle(s) of varied types, capabilities,
and numbers responding to render assistance in a particular emergency
situation.
(2)
Requisites for providing Medical Dispatch Service
(a) Any dispatching entity receiving and
dispatching calls for emergency medical services which provides pre-arrival
medical care instructions may require persons assigned to handle such calls to
be certified as emergency medical dispatchers as defined in T.C.A. §
68-140-502. All such dispatching entities shall have medically approved
dispatch protocols.
(b) The
Department shall assist local dispatch agencies in implementing an Emergency
Medical Dispatch Priority Reference System by:
1. Providing medical direction; and
2. Providing technical assistance;
and
3. Identifying an approved
standard Emergency Medical Dispatch Priority Reference System which must
include at a minimum caller interrogation questions, pre-arrival instructions,
and vehicle response mode/ configuration protocols as defined by these
Rules.
(c) The EMDPRS
including its questions, instructions, and protocols, shall be used exactly as
approved by the Department.
(d)
Dispatch agencies shall provide for medical dispatch quality assurance by
initiating an ongoing medical call review procedure and a quality assurance
program as established by the agency's Medical Director.
(3) Emergency Medical Dispatcher Curriculum
(a) All Emergency Medical Dispatch training
program curricula shall be approved by the Department based on an approved
checklist of required basic components and elements as approved by the EMS
Board.
(b) Any curriculum submitted
for approval shall conform to the guidelines of the National Association of EMS
Physician's (Position Paper on Emergency Medical Dispatching) and ASTMF 1258-90
(Standard Practice for Emergency Medical Dispatch) and/or its successor
standards as a minimum.
(c) The
length of the course shall be a minimum of 24 hours.
(4) Personnel Standards
(a) Certification - The Department shall
develop, establish, or approve an Emergency Medical Dispatch certification and
re-certification program. To be initially certified as an EMD, an individual
shall:
1. Successfully complete a Department
approved EMD Course; and
2.
Maintain proficiency in cardiopulmonary resuscitation for basic life support
procedures; and
3. Successfully
pass an exam given through an approved dispatch organization that has
pre-qualified for testing; or submit proof of having successfully certified as
an EMD through an approved medical dispatch organization that has prequalified
for certification reciprocity.
4.
An applicant shall cause to be submitted to the administrative office of the
Division of Emergency Medical Services, directly from the vendor identified in
the Division's certification application materials, the result of a criminal
background check.
(b)
Recertification - Recertification is required every two (2) years to maintain
Department certification. To recertify an EMD shall:
1. Submit to the Department a completed
application form provided by the Department; and
2. Maintain proficiency in cardiopulmonary
resuscitation for basic life support procedures; and
3. Meet one of the following:
(i) Complete ten hours or 1.0 continuing
education unit (CEU) of Department-approved continuing medical dispatch
education or in-service during the 2-year recertification period; or
(ii) Successfully complete an examination
given through an approved medical dispatch organization that has qualified for
recertification testing; or,
(iii)
Submit proof of having successfully recertified as an EMD through an approved
medical dispatch organization that has qualified for recertification
reciprocity
(c) Reciprocal certification - Reciprocity
for applicants certified outside Tennessee may be granted by the Department
based on the following considerations:
1.
Applicants shall provide to the Department with a current copy of their
Emergency Medical Dispatcher certification; and
2. Applicants shall provide to the Department
proof that the certifying course meets the standards established by the
Department or shall provide the Department the curriculum; and
3. Applicants shall successfully complete the
Department written examination; and
4. Applicants shall meet all Department
certification requirements demonstrating proof that the applicant has certified
in a State having current certification reciprocity with the
Department.
(d)
Certification and Recertification for the Handicapped - These rules shall not
preclude any physically handicapped individual from certifying or recertifying
who can demonstrate proficiency in verbally describing the treatment methods
outlined in the Department approved EMD course and/or CPR course to a
caller.
(e) Lapsed certification -
Individuals who permit their certification to lapse may be recertified by
completion of the recertification requirement.
(f) Instructor Standards - Instructors who
teach Emergency Medical Dispatchers shall meet training and certification
standards established by the Department.
(5) Proscribed Acts for Emergency Medical
Dispatchers - The Department may refuse to issue a certification or
recertification, or suspend or revoke a certification for any of the causes
listed in T.C.A. § 68-140-511.
Notes
Authority: T.C.A. §§ 4-5-202, 4-5-204, 68-140-203, 68-140-204, 68-140-502, 68-140-504, 68-140-505, 68-140-506, 68-140-508, 68-140-511, 68-140-513, and 68-140-525.
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