MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2012 Regular Session
To: Public Health and Welfare
By: Senator(s) Bryan
AN ACT TO AMEND SECTIONS 41-60-11 AND 41-60-13, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO DEFINE "PARAMEDIC" AND "PARAMEDIC-CRITICAL CARE" REGARDING THE AUTHORITY OF THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH TO PROMULGATE RULES AND REGULATIONS FOR ADVANCED LIFE SUPPORT PERSONNEL; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:
SECTION 1. Section 41-60-11, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
41-60-11. As used in Sections 41-60-11 and 41-60-13, unless the context otherwise requires, the term:
(a) "Advanced life support" shall mean a sophisticated level of prehospital and interhospital emergency care which includes basic life support functions including cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), plus cardiac monitoring, cardiac defibrillation, telemetered electrocardiography, administration of antiarrhythmic agents, intravenous therapy, administration of specific medications, drugs and solutions, use of adjunctive ventilation devices, trauma care and other authorized techniques and procedures.
(b) "Advanced life support personnel" shall mean persons other than physicians engaged in the provision of advanced life support, as defined and regulated by rules and regulations promulgated by the board.
(c) "Paramedic" shall mean a person specially trained in an advanced life support training program authorized by the Mississippi State Board of Health.
(d) "Paramedic-Critical Care" shall be a person who is licensed as a Mississippi Paramedic and has successfully completed a critical care paramedic program recognized by the Bureau of Emergency Medical Services, Mississippi State Department of Health or comparable training and education, and received endorsement from the Bureau of Emergency Medical Services, and who is licensed to practice as a Paramedic-Critical Care upon the order or under the supervision of a physician.
(e) "Medical control" shall mean directions and advice provided from a centrally designated medical facility staffed by appropriate personnel, operating under medical supervision, supplying professional support through radio or telephonic communication for on-site and in-transit basic and advanced life support services given by field and satellite facility personnel during all phases of patient care.
SECTION 2. Section 41-60-13, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
41-60-13. The Mississippi State Board of Health is authorized to promulgate and enforce rules and regulations to provide for the best and most effective emergency medical care, and to comply with national standards for advanced life support. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, advanced life support personnel may be authorized to provide advanced life support services as defined by rules and regulations promulgated by the State Board of Health. Rules and regulations promulgated pursuant to this authority shall, as a minimum:
(a) Define and authorize appropriate functions and training programs for advanced life support trainees and personnel; provided, that all such training programs shall meet or exceed the performance requirements of the current training program for the * * * paramedic and paramedic-critical care, developed for the United States Department of Transportation.
(b) Specify minimum operational requirements which will assure medical control over all advanced life support services.
(c) Specify minimum testing and certification requirements and provide for continuing education and periodic recertification for all advanced life support personnel.
SECTION 3. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2012.