35 Pa. C.S. § 8103
The following words and phrases when used in this chapter shall have the meanings given to them in this section unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:
"Advanced emergency medical services." Emergency medical services exceeding the scope of practice of an emergency medical technician.
"Advanced emergency medical technician." An individual who is certified by the Department of Health as an advanced emergency medical technician.
"Advanced life support squad vehicle." A vehicle which:
"ALS." Advanced life support.
"Ambulance." A ground, water or air vehicle which is maintained or operated for the purpose of providing emergency medical services to and transportation of patients.
"Ambulance attendant." An individual who is 16 years of age or older and satisfies one of the following:
"Basic emergency medical services" or "basic EMS." Emergency medical services included within, but not exceeding, the scope of practice of an emergency medical technician.
"Basic life support squad vehicle." A vehicle which:
"BLS." Basic life support.
"Board." The State Advisory Board, which is the Board of Directors of the Pennsylvania Emergency Health Services Council.
"Catchment area." An area surrounding a hospital that is located less than 25 miles of travel distance established by roadways from a Level I, Level II or Level III trauma center.
"Commonwealth emergency medical services medical director" or "Commonwealth EMS medical director." A physician who is approved and employed by the Department of Health to advise and formulate policy on matters pertaining to emergency medical services.
"Comprehensive emergency services." The capacity of a hospital emergency department to maintain staff and provide immediate and advanced care for Pennsylvania patients who require trauma care treatment 24 hours per day and seven days per week based on the availability of the following services:
"Department." The Department of Health of the Commonwealth.
"Emergency." A physiological or psychological illness or injury of an individual, such that a prudent layperson who possesses an average knowledge of health and medicine could reasonably expect the absence of immediate emergency medical services to result in:
"Emergency medical responder" or "EMR." An individual who is certified by the Department of Health as an emergency medical responder.
"Emergency medical services" or "EMS. " Any of the following:
"Emergency medical services agency" or "EMS agency." An entity that engages in the business or service of providing emergency medical services to patients within this Commonwealth by operating any of the following:
"Emergency medical services agency medical director" or "EMS agency medical director." A physician who is employed by, contracts with or volunteers with an emergency medical services agency either directly or through an intermediary to:
"Emergency medical services system" or "EMS system." The arrangement of personnel, facilities and equipment to prevent and manage emergencies in a geographic area.
"Emergency medical services vehicle operator" or "EMS vehicle operator." An individual certified by the Department of Health to operate a ground emergency medical services vehicle.
"Emergency medical technician" or "EMT." An individual who is certified by the Department of Health as an emergency medical technician.
"Facility." A physical location at which an entity operates a health care facility licensed under Federal or State law.
"Foundation." The Pennsylvania Trauma Systems Foundation, a nonprofit Pennsylvania corporation whose function is to accredit trauma centers that receive or seek to receive Commonwealth funds.
"Hospital." An institution having an organized medical staff that is primarily engaged in providing to inpatients, by or under the supervision of physicians, diagnostic and therapeutic services or rehabilitation services for the care or rehabilitation of injured, disabled, pregnant, diseased, sick or mentally ill persons. The term includes a facility for the diagnosis and treatment of disorders within the scope of specific medical specialties. The term does not include a facility caring exclusively for the mentally ill.
"Medical command facility." A distinct unit which contains the necessary equipment and personnel for providing medical command to and control over emergency medical services providers.
"Medical command order." An order issued by a medical command physician to an emergency medical services provider who is functioning on behalf of an emergency medical services agency.
"Medical command physician." A physician certified by the Department of Health to give medical command orders to emergency medical services providers.
"Medical monitoring." Performing continuous or periodic observations of an individual's condition or continuation of an ordered treatment plan for an individual to prevent pain, suffering or the exacerbation of a preexisting condition.
"Medical observation." Performing continuous or periodic observations of an individual's stable condition to determine whether there is a change in that condition.
"Paramedic." An individual who is certified by the Department of Health as a paramedic.
"Patient." An individual for whom an emergency medical services provider is:
"Peer review." The evaluation by health care providers of the quality and efficiency of services ordered or performed by emergency medical services providers and physicians who direct or supervise EMS providers under this chapter and the regulations of the Department of Health.
"Physician." A person who has a currently registered license to practice medicine or osteopathic medicine in this Commonwealth.
"Prehospital emergency medical services physician" or "prehospital EMS physician." A physician who is certified by the Department of Health as a prehospital emergency medical services physician.
"Prehospital physician extender" or "PHPE." A physician assistant who is certified by the Department of Health as a prehospital physician extender.
"Prehospital registered nurse" or "PHRN." A registered nurse who is certified by the Department of Health as a prehospital registered nurse.
"Quick response service" or "QRS." An operation in which emergency medical services providers of an EMS agency:
"Review organization." A committee which engages in peer review as authorized by the regulations of the Department of Health.
"Rural area." An area outside urbanized areas as defined by the United States Bureau of the Census.
"Special care unit." An appropriately equipped area of a hospital where provisions have been made for a concentration of physicians, nurses and others who have special skills and experiences to provide medical care for critically ill patients.
"Trauma care." Medical services provided to an individual with a severe, life-threatening injury that is likely to result in mortality or permanent disability.
"Trauma center." Any of the following:
"Travel distance." The distance traveled by a motor vehicle on paved public roads having at least two driving lanes of width and on which a motor vehicle would reasonably travel in the transport of patients. Travel distance is calculated by rounding up to the next whole mile for a portion of a mile over a whole mile for the distance traveled.
35 Pa.C.S. § 8103