NOTICE OF CHANGE TO R9-25-504 - Effective July 9, 2008

The Department has filed a Notice of Exempt Rulemaking to implement the statutory change in Laws 2008, Ch. 103, effective April 28, 2008. Specifically, this rulemaking implements the change made to A.R.S. § 36-2204 that requires the Medical Director of Emergency Medical Services and the Emergency Medical Services Council (EMS Council) to recommend to the Director standards and criteria to allow an ambulance to transport a patient to a health care institution licensed as a special hospital and that is physically connected to an emergency receiving facility. R9-25-504(A) and (B) has been amended to state:

R9-25-504.   Protocol for Selection of a Health Care Institution for Emergency Medical 
                   Patient Transport 

A.  In this Section:

     1. "Emergency receiving facility" has the same meaning means the same as in A.R.S. 
         § 36-2201.

     2. "Transfer care" means to relinquish to the control of another the ongoing medical
         treatment of an emergency medical patient.

     3. "Special hospital" means the same as in A.A.C. R9-10-201.

B.  An EMT shall, except as provided in subsection (C), transport an emergency medical patient
     to an emergency receiving facility.:

     1. An emergency receiving facility, or

     2. A special hospital that is physically connected to an emergency receiving facility.
   

NOTICE OF CHANGE TO EMT CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS - March 31, 2008

Proof of US Citizenship/Eligibility Requirement beginning April 15, 2008

• What is required?
• Who is affected?
• How can the EMT comply?
• How do you apply?
• Federal & State Statutes

View the Notice [PDF 33K]
 

EMT Training Rulemaking Effective October 6, 2007

The EMT Training Rulemaking became effective on October 6, 2007. This Rulemaking makes several substantive changes that will impact training programs. Specifically, the Rulemaking:

• Requires Arizona EMT-P Course students to complete, during clinical training and field training, the competencies identified in 9 A.A.C. 25, Article 3, Exhibit C;

• Requires training on epinephrine auto-injector administration in the Arizona EMT-B Course and the Arizona EMT-B Refresher;

• Establishes qualifications for supplemental skill training instructors in a new R9-25-513; and

• Repeals R9-25-509, the rule that made epinephrine auto-injector administration an optional skill for EMT-Bs.

The official version of the Notice of Final Rulemaking and the Notice of Exempt Rulemaking for these substantive changes can be found here.

All training programs will be required to comply with the requirements of the revised rules as of October 6, 2007.  If you have any questions about the revised rules, please contact Joel Bunis at (602) 364-3189 or bunisj@azdhs.gov.
  

New Substantive Policy Statement for Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) Practicing in Hospitals, Effective July 1, 2007

ADHS has adopted a new substantive policy statement for emergency medical technicians (EMTs) practicing in hospitals, effective July 1, 2007. The new substantive policy statement, SP-082-PHS-EMS/SP-034-DLS-OMF, has been jointly adopted by the ADHS Bureau of EMS and Trauma System and the ADHS Division of Licensing Services’ Office of Medical Facilities. The substantive policy statement is available at http://www.azdhs.gov/diro/admin_rules/substantive.htm, under both “Public Health” and “Licensing Services.”
  

Immunization Training Requirement Suspended Effective May 1, 2007

The ADHS Director has suspended the requirement for an EMT-I(99) or EMT-P to complete the training required in R9-25-501(C) before the EMT-I(99) or EMT-P may administer an immunizing agent during an immunization clinic. The Director suspended the requirement under A.R.S. § 36-2202(E) after determining that the training requirement is redundant and thus not in the public’s best interest.

The Notice of Public Information suspending the provision was published in the Arizona Administrative Register on May 25, 2007. 

The Department will draft a Notice of Exempt Rulemaking to rewrite R9-25-501 and add immunizing agents to Table 1 in R9-25-503.
   

EMT Certification Extension Rulemaking

The Notice of Final Rulemaking for the EMT certification extension rulemaking was approved by the Governor’s Regulatory Review Council (GRRC) at its meeting on May 1, 2007. The rulemaking was published in the Arizona Administrative Register on May 18, 2007, and became effective on June 30, 2007.  Effective June 30, 2007, ADHS will begin charging the $150 certification extension fee for each application for EMT recertification filed within 30 days after the certification expiration date.
   

Restocking Field EMS Providers with Controlled Substances Information

The Bureau wishes to provide the EMS community with a copy of the August 2002 Pharmacy Board substantive policy statement concerning restocking field EMS providers with controlled substances.  This issue has resurfaced recently and this document has again been reviewed and validated by the Board of Pharmacy and D.E.A.
August 2002 Pharmacy Board Substantive Policy Statement.
  

Pediatric Injury/Death From Car Crashes for Unrestrained Children in Arizona

The Bureau of Emergency Medical Services and Trauma System and the Emergency Medical Services for Children Program have developed a report examining Pediatric Injury/Death From Car Crashes for Unrestrained Children in Arizona [PDF 36K]. The data for the report comes from the Arizona State Trauma Registry and Arizona Child Fatality Review Report.
  

Arizona Computer Based Testing Sites

National Registry Computer Based Testing will begin January 2, 2007. Applicants must obtain from National Registry, a letter of Authorization to Test, prior to scheduling a test date.

To schedule an examination, applicants will call the Pearson VUE Call Center or schedule via the Pearson VUE Candidate web site. Detailed instructions are provided in the Authorization to Test letter.

Applicants requiring further assistance with scheduling a Computer Based Test should contact National Registry at 1-614-888-4484. Applicants may begin completing their NREMT application at this time. Pearson VUE will begin accepting appointments for NREMT testing on December 18th, with an Authorization to Test (ATT).

Click here [PDF 16K] for a list of authorized NREMT Computer Based Testing sites for the State of Arizona as of August 1, 2007. As additional sites are approved they will be updated for your review. Please note: NREMT examinations can be taken at any approved Pearson VUE test center.
  

Arizona Child Fatality Review Program - 14th Annual Report - November 2007

The mission of the Arizona Child Fatality Review Program is to reduce child deaths by analyzing the circumstances surrounding these deaths. Using this data, the Child Fatality Review Team develops recommendations for legislation, public policy, and community education to help prevent deaths in the future. In 2005, 1,148 children died in Arizona. For the first time since the inception of the Arizona Child Fatality Review Program, a Child Fatality Team reviewed every one of these deaths.

Click here to review this report. 
  

Program Directors and Instructors - It's Time to Make Sure your Program is Registered on the NREMT Website!

On January 1, 2007, NREMT pencil and paper exams will be replaced with computer based testing (CBT). For more information, click here. [PDF 66K]
  

Important information concerning the implementation of computer based National Registry EMT testing

The implementation of computer based National Registry EMT testing is slated to begin on January 2, 2007. For more information, click here. [PDF 44K]