SECTION .0300 – SPECIALTY CARE TRANSPORT PROGRAMS

10a ncac 13P .0301       SPECIALTY CARE TRANSPORT PROGRAM CRITERIA

(a)  EMS Providers seeking designation to provide specialty care transports shall submit an application for program approval to the OEMS at least 60 days prior to field implementation. The application shall document that the program has:

(1)           a defined service area that identifies the specific transferring and receiving facilities the program is intended to service;

(2)           written policies and procedures implemented for medical oversight meeting the requirements of Section .0400 of this Subchapter;

(3)           service available on a 24 hour a day, seven days a week basis;

(4)           the capability to provide the patient care skills and procedures as specified in "North Carolina College of Emergency Physicians: Standards for Medical Oversight and Data Collection;"

(5)           a written continuing education program for EMS personnel, under the direction of the Specialty Care Transport Program Continuing Education Coordinator, developed and modified based upon feedback from program data, review and evaluation of patient outcomes, and quality management review that follows the criteria set forth in Rule .0501 of this Subchapter;

(6)           a communication system that provides two-way voice communications for transmission of patient information to medical crew members anywhere in the service area of the program. The SCTP Medical Director shall verify that the communications system is satisfactory for on-line medical direction;

(7)           medical crew members that have completed training conducted every six months regarding:

(A)          operation of the EMS communications system used in the program; and

(B)          the medical and patient safety equipment specific to the program;

(8)           written operational protocols for the management of equipment, supplies, and medications. These protocols shall include:

(A)          a Specialized Ambulance Protocol Summary document listing of all standard medical equipment, supplies, and medications, approved by the Medical Director as sufficient to manage the anticipated number and severity of injury or illness of the patients, for all vehicles and aircraft used in the program based on the treatment protocols and approved by the OEMS; and

(B)          a methodology to ensure that each ground vehicle and aircraft contains the required equipment, supplies, and medications on each response; and

(9)           written policies and procedures specifying how EMS Systems will dispatch and utilize the ground ambulances and aircraft operated by the program.

(b)  When transporting patients, staffing for the ground ambulance and aircraft used in the SCTP shall be approved by the SCTP Medical Director as medical crew members, using any of the following as determined by the transferring physician who is responsible for the medical aspects of the mission to manage the anticipated severity of injury or illness of the patient:

(1)           paramedic;

(2)           nurse practitioner;

(3)           physician;

(4)           physician assistant;

(5)           registered nurse; or

(6)           respiratory therapist.

(c)  SCTP as defined in Rule .0102 of this Subchapter are exempt from the staffing requirements defined in G.S. 131E-158(a).

(d)  SCTP approval is valid for six years. Programs shall apply to the OEMS for reapproval no more than 90 days prior to expiration.

History Note:        Authority G.S. 131E-155.1(b); 131E-158; 143-508;

Temporary Adoption Eff. January 1, 2002;

Eff. January 1, 2004;

Amended Eff. January 1, 2004;

Amended Eff. March 3, 2009 pursuant to E.O. 9, Beverly Perdue, March 3, 2009;

Pursuant to G.S. 150B-21.3(c), a bill was not ratified by the General Assembly to disapprove this rule;

Readopted Eff. January 1, 2017;

Amended Eff. April 1, 2024; July 1, 2018.