Okla. Admin. Code § 310:641-3-24

Current through Vol. 42, No. 4, November 1, 2024

Section 310:641-3-24 - Medical control requirement

(a) Each Oklahoma licensed ambulance service that initiates and responds to calls within the state shall have a physician medical director who is fully licensed, non-restricted Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) or a Doctor of Osteopathy (D.O.) by the State of Oklahoma.

(b) Each licensed ambulance service will have a plan or policy that will address a sudden lapse of medical direction, such as a back-up or reserve medical director, which is used to ensure coverage when a medical director is not available.

(1) The Department shall be notified the next business day of any lapse or change of medical direction by the respective agency. If the agency has made arrangements for a back-up medical director or an immediate replacement, then a lapse has not occurred.

(2) In the event of a lapse in medical direction; in that, there is not a medical director providing the authority for medical interventions for an agency's certified and licensed personnel, the agency will, pursuant to 63 O.S. Section 1-2506 relating to the medical authority to perform medical procedures:

(A) cease all operations involving patient care,

(B) implement mutual aid plans to ensure requests for service receive responses until the agency is able to implement their plan or policy for substitution or back-up medical direction.

(c) An agency that only provides care within the Basic Life Support scope of practice, the medical director shall:

(1) hold a valid, non-restricted medical license,

(2) not be restricted from obtaining or maintaining OBNDD and DEA registrations for controlled dangerous substances,

(3) demonstrate appropriate training and experience in adult and pediatric emergency care. Demonstrated training and experience may include appropriate board training, basic life support, or pre-hospital trauma life support courses.

(d) An agency that provides Intermediate, Advanced, or Paramedic level interventions by individual protocols or licensure level, the medical director shall:

(1) hold a valid, non-restricted medical license,

(2) maintain current OBNDD and DEA registrations for controlled dangerous substances,

(3) demonstrate appropriate training and competence in adult and pediatric emergency medical services, to include pediatric and adult trauma. Demonstrated training and experience may include completed residency training as well as relevant work experience with current clinical competency.

(e) The physician medical director of a ground ambulance based in another state shall not be required to be licensed to practice in the State of Oklahoma, but shall be fully licensed in good standing in the home state of that ground ambulance service. Otherwise, the medical director will meet EMS Medical Director requirements listed in this subchapter.

(f) The physician medical director for an ambulance service operated by the federal government shall be fully licensed in good standing in Oklahoma or another state. If not licensed in Oklahoma, the physician shall be actively employed by the federal agency responsible for the operation of the ambulance service or emergency medical response agency.

(g) The physician director shall:

(1) be accessible, knowledgeable, and actively involved in quality assurance and the educational activities of the agency's personnel and supervise a quality assurance (QA) program. The appointment of a designee to assist in QA and educational activities does not absolve the medical director of their responsibility for providing oversight;

(2) provide a written statement to the Department, which includes:

(A) an agreement to provide medical direction and establish treatment protocols and the agency specific scope of practice for all certified and licensed agency personnel;

(B) the physician's primary practice address or home address if the physician does not have a practice, as well as contact information such as a phone number and email address(es);

(C) the current OBNDD registrant number or state equivalent, as appropriate;

(D) current Oklahoma medical license;

(E) on-line and/or off line specific licensure level medical protocols with medication formulary for patient care techniques. Protocols shall include medication to be used, treatment modalities for patient care procedures, and appropriate security procedures for controlled dangerous substances;

(3) Attend or demonstrate participation in:

(A) medical director training provided by the Department subject to the availability of funding. Verification of attendance or participation will be maintained at the agency;

(B) one hour of continuing education each year specific to providing medical oversight to EMS providers and agencies each year, provided by the Department subject to the availability of funding.

Okla. Admin. Code § 310:641-3-24

Added by Oklahoma Register, Volume 33, Issue 24, September 1, 2016, eff. 9/11/2016