Section 1023.27. Paramedic

(a) Roles and responsibilities. A paramedic performs basic and advanced EMS skills which include interventions and administration of medications and vaccines with basic and advanced equipment found on an EMS vehicle found or within a paramedic’s scope of practice, as follows:

(1) For an EMS agency as a member of the crew of an ambulance or squad vehicle.

(2) For an EMS agency as a member of a QRS to stabilize and improve a patient’s condition in an out-of-hospital emergency until an ambulance arrives at the scene. The paramedic may then assist the ambulance crew.

(3) As a member of a special operations EMS service.

(4) As a first aid or safety officer, or in a similar capacity, for or independent of an EMS agency. When serving in this capacity independent of an EMS agency, a paramedic does not function under the direction of an EMS agency medical director or a medical command physician. The paramedic shall perform skills as prescribed by applicable Statewide and regional EMS protocols, and may not perform the following:

(i) Skills other than those permitted at the EMT level of care.

(ii) A skill for which the EMT is required to secure medical command direction under those protocols.

(b) Certification. The Department will certify as a paramedic an individual who meets the following qualifications:

(1) Completes an application for paramedic certification on a form or through an electronic process, as prescribed by the Department.

(2) Is certified as an EMT or an AEMT by the Department or possesses an equivalent certification issued by another state.

(3) Is 18 years of age or older.

(4) Has a high school diploma or its equivalent.

(5) Has successfully completed an EMS provider educational course for paramedics.

(6) Has a current certificate evidencing successful completion of a CPR course acceptable to the Department.

(7) Has passed a practical test of paramedic skills for paramedic certification approved by the Department.

(8) Has passed a written examination for paramedic certification approved by the Department.

(c) Biennial registration.

(1) When a paramedic certification is issued it is deemed registered through December 31 of that year if it is issued in an odd-numbered year, or through December 31 of the next odd-numbered year if it is issued in an even-numbered year. Thereafter, a paramedic shall biennially register the certification by completing a form or through an electronic process, as prescribed by the Department. A paramedic shall submit the form or complete the electronic process at least 30 days prior to the expiration of a current registration. Failure to do so in a timely manner may result in the paramedic certification not being registered again before the prior registration expires. The Department will issue a new registration within 30 days after the paramedic completes the form or the electronic process if the information provided establishes that the paramedic has successfully completed one of the following:

(i) The paramedic practical skills and written knowledge biennial registration examinations prescribed by the Department.

(ii) The continuing education requirements for biennial registration of a paramedic certification in § 1023.31(e) (relating to continuing education requirements).

(2) A paramedic who is a member of the armed forces who is returning from active military service and whose paramedic registration has expired or will expire within 12 months after returning from active military service may secure an exception to the triennial registration requirements under § 1023.21(d) (relating to general rights and responsibilities).

(d) Scope of practice.

(1) A paramedic’s scope of practice incorporates the scope of practice of an AEMT and additional skills in the following skill areas, as published in the Pennsylvania Bulletin, if the paramedic has been educated to perform the following skills:

(i) Airway/ventilation/oxygenation.

(ii) Cardiovascular circulation.

(iii) Immobilization.

(iv) Medication administration—routes.

(v) IV initiation/maintenance fluids.

(2) A paramedic’s scope of practice may be expanded to include advanced EMS skills in other skill areas as the Department publishes in a notice in the Pennsylvania Bulletin. A paramedic may not perform those additional skills unless the paramedic has received education to perform those skills, and is able to document having received the education, in one of the following:

(i) A course approved by the Department that covers the complete curriculum for certification as a paramedic.

(ii) A course which is determined by the Department to meet or exceed the standards of a course approved by the Department under subparagraph (i).

(iii) A course for which the paramedic may receive continuing education credit towards biennial registration of the paramedic certification.

(3) The Department will publish in the Pennsylvania Bulletin, at least biennially, a list of the skills the Department has approved as being within the scope of practice of a paramedic.

The provisions of this § 1023.27 adopted October 11, 2013, effective April 10, 2014, 43 Pa.B. 6093.

Notation

Cross References

This section cited in 28 Pa. Code § 1023.28 (relating to prehospital registered nurse); 28 Pa. Code § 1023.29 (relating to prehospital physician extender); and 28 Pa. Code § 1023.31 (relating to continuing education requirements).