S.C. Code Regs. § § 61-7.100.101

Current through Register Vol. 48, No. 10, October 25, 2024

Section 61-7.100.101 - Definitions

A. Abandoned. For the purpose of Section 302.B.3.h, unilateral termination by the EMS Personnel of the provider-Patient relationship when continuing care was still needed. This includes the termination of care without the Patient's consent or without assurance that a level of care meeting the assessed needs of the Patient's condition is present and available. The provider-patient relationship must have been established for abandonment to occur and the event must be without extenuating circumstances such as provider safety or patients who act against medical advice (AMA).

B. Abuse. Physical Abuse or Psychological Abuse.

1. Physical Abuse. The act of intentionally inflicting or allowing infliction of physical injury on a Patient by an act or failure to act. Physical Abuse includes, but is not limited to, slapping, hitting, kicking, biting, choking, pinching, burning, actual or attempted sexual battery, use of medication outside the standards of reasonable medical practice for the purpose of controlling behavior, and unreasonable confinement. Physical Abuse also includes the use of a restrictive or physically intrusive procedure to control behavior for the purpose of punishment except that of a therapeutic procedure prescribed by a licensed physician or other legally authorized healthcare professional. Physical Abuse does not include altercations or acts of assault between Patients.

2. Psychological Abuse. The deliberate use of any oral, written, or gestured language or depiction that includes disparaging or derogatory terms to a Patient or within the Patient's hearing distance, regardless of the Patient's age, ability to comprehend, or disability, including threats or harassment or other forms of intimidating behavior causing fear, humiliation, degradation, agitation, confusion, or other forms of serious emotional distress.

C. Advanced Emergency Medical Technician (AEMT). An advanced level emergency medical services provider certified by the Department to provide basic and limited advanced emergency medical care and transportation for Patients.

D. Advanced Life Support (ALS). An advanced level of prehospital, interhospital, and emergency service care, which includes Basic Life Support functions, 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 techniques and procedures authorized by the Department.

E. Adverse Incident. An unexpected event, including any accidents, that could potentially cause harm, injury, or death to Patients, EMS Personnel, or third-party individuals.

F. Air Ambulance. Any aircraft that is intended to be used and is maintained or operated for transportation of persons who are sick, injured, or otherwise incapacitated.

1. Fixed Wing. Any aircraft that uses fixed wings to allow it to take off, fly, and land.

2. Rotorcraft. A helicopter or other aircraft that uses a rotary blade to allow vertical and horizontal flight without the use of wings.

G. Ambulance. A vehicle maintained or operated by a Licensed Agency that has obtained the necessary permits and licenses for the transportation of persons who are sick, injured, wounded, or otherwise incapacitated.

H. Attendant. A trained and qualified individual responsible for the operation of an Ambulance and the care of Patients, regardless of whether the Attendant also serves as the Driver.

I. Attendant-driver. A person who is qualified as an Attendant and a Driver.

J. Basic Life Support (BLS). A basic level of prehospital care, which includes Patient stabilization, airway clearance, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, hemorrhage control, initial wound care and fracture stabilization, and other techniques and procedures authorized by the Department pursuant to regulation.

K. Certificate. An official acknowledgment by the Department that an individual has completed successfully one of the appropriate Emergency Medical Technician training programs, successfully completed the requisite examinations, and which entitles that individual to perform the functions and duties as delineated by the classification for which the Certificate was issued.

L. Condition Requiring an Emergency Response. The sudden onset of a medical condition manifested by symptoms of such sufficient severity, including severe pain, which a prudent layperson who possesses an average knowledge of health and medicine could reasonably expect without medical attention, to result in:

1. Serious illness or disability;

2. Impairment of a bodily function;

3. Dysfunction of the body; or

4. Prolonged pain, psychiatric disturbance, or symptoms of withdrawal.

M. Continuing Education Program. A Department-approved program offered by an EMS Agency that provides Continuing Education for the recertification of South Carolina certified EMT-basics, AEMTs, and Paramedics.

N. Department. The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control.

O. Do Not Resuscitate Bracelet ("Bracelet"). A standardized identification bracelet that:

1. Meets the specifications established under S.C. Code Section 44-78-30(B) or that is approved by the Department under S.C. Code Section 44-78-30(B);

2. Bears the inscription "Do Not Resuscitate"; and

3. Signifies that the wearer is a Patient who has obtained a Do Not Resuscitate Order that has not been revoked.

P. Do Not Resuscitate Order for Emergency Services ("DNR Order"). A document made pursuant to the Emergency Medical Services Do Not Resuscitate Order Act, S.C. Code Sections 44-78-10, et seq., to prevent Emergency Medical Services personnel from employing resuscitation measures or any other medical process that would only extend the Patient's suffering with no viable medical reason to perform the procedure.

Q. Driver. An individual who drives or otherwise operates an Ambulance.

R. Electronic Patient Care Reports (ePCR). Patient care reports authored and submitted electronically into the Department's EMS data system.

S. Elopement. An instance when a Patient who wanders, walks, runs away, escapes, or otherwise leaves unsupervised or unnoticed from the scene, transport unit, or prior to care being assumed by the receiving facility.

T. Emergency. A situation in which a prudent layperson has identified a potential medical threat to life or limb such that the absence of immediate medical attention could reasonably be expected to result in placing the individual's health in serious jeopardy, serious impairment of bodily functions, or serious dysfunction of bodily organs.

U. Emergency Medical Responder Agency. An Agency licensed by the Department to provide medical care at the EMT-basic level or above, as a nontransporting emergency medical responder. May also be referred to as an EMT Rapid Responder Agency.

V. Emergency Medical Service Agency. An Agency licensed by the Department to provide nontransport and/or transport emergency medical services in South Carolina, including public, private, volunteer, fire departments, or other type of Ambulance services and Emergency Medical Responder Agencies. May also be referred to as EMS Agency or Agency.

W. Emergency Medical Services Personnel. Persons trained and certified or licensed to provide emergency medical care, whether on a paid or volunteer basis, as part of a Basic Life Support or Advanced Life Support prehospital Emergency Medical Services, in an emergency department, pediatric critical care, or specialty unit in a licensed hospital. May also be referred to as EMS Personnel.

X. Emergency Medical Technician (EMT). An individual possessing a valid EMT-basic, Advanced EMT (AEMT), or Paramedic Certificate issued by the Department.

Y. Emergency Transport. Services and transportation provided after the sudden onset of a medical condition manifesting itself by acute symptoms of such severity, including severe pain, that the absence of medical attention could reasonably be expected to result in the following:

1. Placing the Patient's health in serious jeopardy;

2. Causing serious impairment of bodily functions or serious dysfunction of bodily organ or part; or

3. A situation resulting from an accident, injury, acute illness, unconsciousness, or shock, for example, requiring oxygen or other emergency treatment, or requiring the Patient to remain immobile because of a fracture, stroke, heart attack, or severe hemorrhage.

Z. EMT-basic. An EMT certified by the Department at the basic level.

AA. Endorsement. A provision added to a Certificate, pursuant to approval by the Department, enhancing the scope of practice or authorization of specific activities within the EMS system.

BB. Exploitation.

1) Causing or requiring a Patient to engage in an activity or labor that is improper, unlawful, or against the reasonable and rational wishes of a Patient;

2) an improper, unlawful, or unauthorized use of the funds, assets, property, power of attorney, guardianship, or conservatorship of a Patient by an individual for the profit or advantage of that individual or another individual; or

3) causing a Patient to purchase goods or services for the profit or advantage of the seller or another individual through undue influence, harassment, duress, force, coercion, or swindling by overreaching, cheating, or defrauding the Patient through cunning arts or devices that delude the Patient and cause him or her to lose money or other property.

CC. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The agency of the federal government that governs aircraft design, operations, and personnel requirements.

DD. Flight Nurse. A licensed registered nurse who is trained in all aspects of Emergency care.

EE. Investigative Review Committee. A professional peer review committee that may be convened by the Department, in its discretion, when the findings of an official investigation against an entity or an individual regulated by the Department may warrant suspension or revocation of a License or Certificate.

FF. License. An authorization issued by the Department to a person, firm, corporation, or governmental division or agency to provide emergency medical services.

GG. Licensee. Any person, firm, corporation, or governmental division or agency possessing a License to provide emergency medical services in South Carolina.

HH. Medical Control. Medical Control is provided by a licensed Agency's physician who is responsible for the care of the Patient by the Agency's medical Attendants. Actual Medical Control may be direct by two-way voice communications (on-line) or indirect by Protocols (off-line) control.

1. Off-Line Medical Control. An Agency's Medical Control Physician assists in development and implementation of Protocols and Patient care guidelines.

2. On-Line Medical Control. The physician directly communicates with EMS Personnel regarding Patient care en-route or on-scene.

II. Medical Control Physician. A physician with a current unrestricted license to practice medicine by the South Carolina Board of Medical Examiners, retained by an EMS Agency to provide Off-line Medical Control, who participates in the review or evaluation of the services provided, and who maintains quality control of the Patient care provided by the EMS Agency. May also be referred to as EMS Medical Director.

JJ. Moral Turpitude. Behavior that is not in conformity with and is considered deviant by societal standards.

KK. National Emergency Medical Services Information System (NEMSIS). The national database that is used to store EMS data from the U.S. States and Territories. NEMSIS is a collaborative system to improve Patient care through the standardization, aggregation, and utilization of point of care EMS data at a local, state, and national level.

LL. National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians (NREMT). A national certification agency that provides a valid and uniform process to assess the knowledge and skills required for competent practice by EMS professionals throughout their careers and maintains a registry of certification status.

MM. Nonemergency Transport. Services and transportation provided to a Patient whose condition is considered stable, including prearranged transports scheduled at the convenience of the service, the Patient, or medical facility. A stable Patient is one whose condition by caregiver consensus can reasonably be expected to remain the same throughout the transport and for whom none of the criteria for Emergency Transport has been met.

NN. Palliative Treatment. The degree of treatment that must be provided to a Patient in the routine delivery of emergency medical services, which assures the comfort and alleviation of pain and suffering to all extents possible, regardless of whether the Patient has executed a document as provided for in Chapter 78, Title 44 of the S.C. Code of Laws. May also be referred to as Palliative Care.

OO. Paramedic. The highest level of EMT certified by the Department.

PP. Patient. An individual who is sick, injured, wounded, or otherwise incapacitated or helpless.

QQ. Permit. An authorization issued by the Department for an Ambulance which meets the standards of this regulation.

RR. Physician Orders for Scope of Treatment (POST) Form. A designated document designed for use as part of advance care planning, the use of which must be limited to situations where the Patient has been diagnosed with a serious illness or, based upon medical diagnosis, may be expected to lose capacity within twelve (12) months and consists of a set of medical orders signed by a Patient's Physician or other Authorized Healthcare Provider addressing key medical decisions consistent with Patient goals of care concerning treatment at the end of life that is portable and valid across health care settings.

SS. Prehospital Care: Assessment, stabilization, and care of a Patient, including, but not limited to, the transportation to an appropriate receiving facility.

TT. Protocols. Written orders signed, dated, and issued by a Medical Control Physician that allow EMT-basics, AEMTs, and Paramedics to administer particular medications and perform treatment modalities in specific situations without On-line Medical Control. May also be referred to as Standing Orders.

UU. Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP). A communications facility operated on a twenty-four (24) hour basis which first receives 911 calls from persons in a 911 service area and which may directly dispatch public safety services or extend, transfer, or relay 911 calls to appropriate public safety agencies.

VV. Resuscitative Treatment. Artificial stimulation of the cardiopulmonary systems of the human body, through either electrical, mechanical, or manual means including, but not limited to, cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

WW. Revocation. An action by the Department to cancel or annul a License, Permit, or Certificate by recalling, withdrawing, or rescinding the Agency's or individual's authorization to operate or practice.

XX. Special Purpose EMT. A South Carolina licensed registered nurse (RN) or a Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) State RN who works in a critical care hospital setting, and is an EMT certified by the Department to provide a continuance of critical care during transport while aboard Ambulances equipped for their specialty area.

YY. "Star of Life". A six (6) barred blue cross outlined with a white border of which all angles are sixty (60) degrees, and upon which is superimposed the staff of Aesculapius in white. This is a registered trademark of the United States Department of Transportation.

ZZ. Suspension. An action by the Department requiring a Licensee, Permit or Certificate holder to cease operations or providing Patient care until such time as the Department rescinds that restriction.

AAA. Variance. An alternative method that ensures the equivalent level of compliance with the standards in this regulation.

BBB. Volunteer EMS Agency. A not-for-profit EMS Agency that serves its local community with emergency medical service coverage at any level and is staffed by at least ninety percent (90%) non-paid staff. For the purpose of this regulation, token stipends received by volunteer EMS Agencies are not considered paid remuneration or a primary wage.

S.C. Code Regs. § 61-7.100.101

Replaced and amended by State Register Volume 40, Issue No. 06, eff. 6/24/2016; State Register Volume 46, Issue No. 05, eff. 5/27/2022.