Pennsylvania § 8114 - Emergency medical responders.

§ 8114. Emergency medical responders.

(a) Scope of practice.--An EMR performs for an EMS agency BLS skills involving basic interventions with minimum EMS equipment as follows:

(1) As a member of a QRS to stabilize and improve a patient's condition in an out-of-hospital emergency until a higher-level EMS provider arrives at the scene and then may assist that EMS provider.

(2) As a member of the crew of an ambulance.

(3) In another capacity as authorized by the department by regulation.

(b) Certification.--The department shall certify as an EMR an individual who meets all of the following:

(1) Is at least 16 years of age.

(2) Has successfully completed an EMR training course approved by the department.

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

(4) Has passed an EMR skills practical examination approved by the department.

(5) Has passed a written EMR certification examination approved by the department.

(c) Triennial registration.--An EMR's certification is deemed registered for three years after issuance. An EMR must register the EMR certification at three-year intervals by completing an application for triennial registration on a form or through an electronic process, as prescribed by the department. The following shall apply:

(1) The department shall issue a triennial registration of an EMR certification to an EMR who meets all of the following:

(i) Has a current registration and applies for a new registration no later than:

(A) 30 days before the current registration is to expire; or

(B) a lesser time established by regulation of the department.

(ii) Successfully:

(A) completes EMR triennial registration practical skills and written knowledge examinations approved by the department; or

(B) secures continuing education credits for EMR triennial registration as required by the department in continuing education programs approved by the department.

(2) An EMR whose registration of an EMR certification has expired must qualify for a triennial registration of the certification as prescribed by regulation of the department.

(d) Transition for first responders.--An individual who is certified as a first responder on the effective date of this section shall be considered to be an EMR with a current registration and shall be subject to the triennial registration requirements of an EMR. The registration of the EMR certification shall expire on the same date the first responder certification would have expired if the first responder certification remained in effect.

(e) Transition for ambulance attendants.--An individual who is an ambulance attendant on the effective date of this section shall be considered to be an EMR with a current registration and shall be subject to the triennial registration requirements of an EMR. The registration of the EMR certification shall expire on the same date that the person's qualifications as an ambulance attendant expire and would have needed to be renewed.

Effective Date. Section 9(1) of Act 37 of 2009 provided that section 8114 shall take effect 180 days after the publication of the notice in section 7. The notice was published October 12, 2013, at 43 Pa.B. 6093.