Section 117.30. Emergency paramedic services

In hospitals, where paramedics are employed by the hospital for treatment of patients in the emergency service area:

(1) The primary responsibility of the paramedic is to respond to emergency situations outside the hospital. Paramedics cannot be utilized as an integral part of the hospital emergency service area staff, that is, as a replacement for licensed health professionals. Paramedics may only be utilized to support and assist licensed health professionals in the care of patients in emergency situations meeting the requirements of paragraph (4).

(2) Paramedics may function in hospitals as paramedics only when the hospitals provide advanced life support services, when the paramedics are employed by an advanced life support service, or when the paramedics are functioning under paragraph (6).

(3) Paramedics may not function as paramedics, except in extraordinary life threatening situations, in an area of the hospital other than the emergency service area except for training and continuing education purposes under paragraph (6).

(4) A paramedic may function as a paramedic only in an emergency situation. In these situations, a paramedic may practice the skills for which the paramedic is certified to perform. The paramedic may only practice as a paramedic in the hospital emergency service area, when under the direct supervision of a physician, who shall be physically present in the emergency service area. An emergency situation is a situation for which an absence of intervention within hours will result in loss of life or significant impairment of body function.

(5) The paramedic’s scope of practice shall be in accordance with the limitations imposed by the act of November 30, 1976 (P. L. 1205, No. 264) (35 P. S. § § 6801—6805) (Repealed) and Chapter 2, Subchapter A (Reserved).

(6) Paramedic students enrolled in a training program approved by the Department, or paramedics enrolled in a continuing education program, may function in a hospital under the direct supervision of licensed or certified personnel, operating within their legal scopes of practice, who have been assigned responsibility for specific components of the training programs. The Department may approve training programs for paramedic students in hospitals without advanced life support units. A continuing education program shall consist of a written program of instruction, designed to enhance the paramedics’ skills in accordance with standards mandated by the applicable regional Emergency Health Services Council.

The provisions of this § 117.30 adopted January 25, 1985, effective March 27, 1985, 15 Pa.B. 250.

Notation

Authority

The provisions of this § 117.30 issued under section 2102(g) of The Administrative Code of 1929 (71 P. S. § 532(g)); and section 803 of the Health Care Facilities Act (35 P. S. § 448.803).

Cross References

The section cited in 28 Pa. Code § 107.62 (relating to oral orders); 28 Pa. Code § 107.64 (relating to administration of drugs); and 28 Pa. Code § 109.66 (relating to blood transfusions and intravenous medications).