Rule 511-9-2-.03 - Statewide Emergency Medical Services Advisory Councils(1) Emergency Medical Services Advisory Council.(a) Purpose. A statewide Emergency Medical Services Advisory Council (EMSAC) shall be established to advise the Department in matters essential to its operations with respect to emergency medical services systems.(b) General Provisions. 1. The Director and Deputy Director of the State Office of EMS and Trauma shall act as liaisons between EMSAC and the Department, and shall provide support, education, and guidance to EMSAC related to its roles.2. EMSAC recommendations are advisory and are not binding on the Department or on agencies under contract to the Department.3. EMSAC shall adopt bylaws subject to the approval of the Department and shall conduct its business in accordance with the Georgia Open Records and Open Meetings Acts. Bylaws shall address frequency of meetings, recording of minutes, membership, creation and function of committees, managing of conflicts of interest, voting, and other issues relevant to the function of an advisory council.4. EMSAC shall be composed of between twenty-five (25) and thirty-five (35) members who are knowledgeable in the field of EMS systems and all components thereof, and who represent a broad cross-section of Georgia's citizens. Membership shall include representation from each of the following categories, provided that a single member may represent more than one category:(i) At least one representative from each of the state's ten EMS Regions;(ii) At least one representative from each of the following systems of care:(e) Perinatal Care/Obstetrics(iii) A representative from the statewide Emergency Medical Services Medical Director's Advisory Council;(iv) A representative of EMS education;(v) A representative from a fire/rescue service;(vi) A representative from an emergency management agency;(vii) At least one representative from each of the following EMS agency license types:(d) Medical First Responder(viii) At least one representative from each of the following EMS agency ownership types: (a) Government (City, County, or State)(b) Private (Corporation, Limited Liability Company, Sole Proprietorship, or other entity)(ix) Consumers or experts in the field of EMS.5. Members shall be appointed by the Commissioner or his/her designee for a term specified in EMSAC's bylaws.6. Each EMSAC member shall serve in a volunteer capacity, without remuneration by the Department, and shall not be entitled to reimbursement of any expenses, including travel expenses.(c) EMSAC's responsibilities shall include, but not be limited to:1. Recommending standards and policies which affect those persons, services, or agencies regulated under these rules and Chapter 11 of Title 31 of the Official Code of Georgia;2. Reviewing and providing comment on legislative proposals; and3. Participating as an advocacy body to improve Georgia's statewide emergency medical services systems and all components thereof.(2) Emergency Medical Services Medical Directors Advisory Council.(a) Purpose. The Department shall establish a statewide Emergency Medical Services Medical Directors Advisory Council (EMSMDAC) to advise the Department on issues related to medical direction of the EMS system.(b) General Provisions. 1. The Director and Deputy Director of the State Office of EMS and Trauma and the State EMS Medical Director shall serve as liaisons between EMSMDAC and the Department, and shall provide support, education, and guidance to EMSMDAC related to its roles.2. EMSMDAC recommendations are advisory and are not binding on the Department or on agencies under contract to the Department.3. EMSMDAC shall adopt bylaws subject to the approval of the Department and shall conduct its business in accordance with the Georgia Open Records and Open Meetings Acts. Bylaws shall address frequency of meetings, recording of minutes, membership, creation and function of committees, managing conflicts of interest, voting, and other issues relevant to the function of an advisory council.4. EMSMDAC shall be composed of between twenty-five (25) and thirty (30) physician members who are knowledgeable in the field of EMS systems and all components thereof, and who represent a broad cross-section of Georgia's EMS programs and the medical community. Membership shall include representation from each of the following categories, provided that a single member may represent more than one category: (i) At least one member from each of the state's ten EMS Regions;(ii) At least one representative from each of the following systems of care: (e) Perinatal Care/Obstetrics(iii) Physicians with an interest and/or expertise in the provision of emergency medical care.5. EMSMDAC members shall be appointed by the Commissioner or his/her designee for a term specified in EMSMDAC's bylaws.6. Each EMSMDAC member shall serve in a volunteer capacity, without remuneration by the Department, and shall not be entitled to reimbursement of any expenses, including travel expenses.(c) Responsibilities of EMSMDAC shall include, but not be limited to:1. Acting as a liaison with the medical community, medical facilities, and appropriate governmental entities;2. Advising and providing consultation to the Department on practice issues related to the care delivered by entities and personnel under the jurisdiction of the Department;3. Advising on and reviewing matters of medical direction and training in conformity with accepted emergency medical practices and procedures;4. Recommending and reviewing policies and procedures affecting patient care rendered by EMS personnel;5. Advising on the scope and extent of EMS practice for the emergency medical services of Georgia;6. Advising on the scope of practice for EMS personnel licensed in Georgia;7. Advising on the formulation of medical, communication, and emergency transportation protocols; and8. Advising on quality improvement issues related to patient care rendered by EMS personnel.Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. R. 511-9-2-.03
O.C.G.A. §§ 31-2A-3, 31-2A-6, 31-11-5, 31-11-60.1.
Original Rule entitled "Emergency Medical Services Advisory Councils" adopted. F. December 14, 2011; eff. January 3, 2012.Amended: F. Apr. 27, 2016; eff. May 17, 2016.Amended: New Rule entitled "Statewide Emergency Medical Services Advisory Councils." F. Nov. 14, 2019; eff. Dec. 9, 2019, as specified by the Agency.