AN ACT
Relating to emergency service medical personnel; amending RCW 18.71.205,
18.73.130, 18.73.140, 18.73.150, and 18.130.040; and adding a new section to
chapter 18.73 RCW.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE
OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
Sec.
1. RCW 18.71.205
and 1990 c 269 s 18 are each amended to read as follows:
(1)
The secretary of the department of health, in conjunction with the advice and
assistance of the emergency medical services licensing and certification
advisory committee as prescribed in RCW 18.73.050, and the board of medical
examiners, shall prescribe:
(a)
Minimum standards and performance requirements for the certification and
recertification of physician's trained intravenous therapy technicians, airway
management technicians, and mobile intensive care paramedics; and
(b)
Procedures for certification, recertification, and decertification of
physician's trained intravenous therapy technicians, airway management
technicians, and mobile intensive care paramedics.
(2)
Initial certification shall be for a period of ((two)) three
years.
(3)
Recertification shall be granted upon proof of continuing satisfactory
performance and education, and shall be for a period of ((two)) three
years.
(4) As
used in chapters 18.71 and 18.73 RCW, "approved medical program
director" means a person who:
(a) Is
licensed to practice medicine and surgery pursuant to chapter 18.71 RCW or
osteopathy and surgery pursuant to chapter 18.57 RCW; and
(b) Is
qualified and knowledgeable in the administration and management of emergency
care and services; and
(c) Is
so certified by the department of health for a county, group of counties, or
cities with populations over four hundred thousand in coordination with the recommendations
of the local medical community and local emergency medical services and trauma
care council.
(5)
The uniform disciplinary act, chapter 18.130 RCW, governs uncertified practice,
the issuance and denial of certificates, and the disciplining of certificate
holders under this section. The secretary shall be the disciplining authority
under this section. Disciplinary action shall be initiated against a person
credentialed under this chapter in a manner consistent with the
responsibilities and duties of the medical program director under whom such
person is responsible.
Sec.
2. RCW
18.73.130 and 1990 c 269 s 25 are each amended to read as follows:
An
ambulance operator, ambulance director, aid vehicle operator or aid director
may not operate a service in the state of Washington without holding a license
for such operation, issued by the secretary when such operation is consistent
with the state-wide and regional emergency medical services and trauma care
plans established pursuant to chapter 70.168 RCW, indicating the general area
to be served and the number of vehicles to be used, with the following
exceptions:
(1)
The United States government;
(2)
Ambulance operators and ambulance directors providing service in other states
when bringing patients into this state;
(3)
Owners of businesses in which ambulance or aid vehicles are used exclusively on
company property but occasionally in emergencies may transport patients to
hospitals not on company property; and
(4)
Operators of vehicles pressed into service for transportation of patients in
emergencies when licensed ambulances are not available or cannot meet
overwhelming demand.
The
license shall be valid for a period of ((three)) two years and
shall be renewed on request provided the holder has consistently complied with
the regulations of the department and the department of licensing and provided
also that the needs of the area served have been met satisfactorily. The
license shall not be transferable.
Sec.
3. RCW
18.73.140 and 1987 c 214 s 11 are each amended to read as follows:
The
secretary shall issue an ambulance or aid vehicle license for each vehicle so
designated. The license shall be for a period of ((one)) two
years and may be reissued on expiration if the vehicle and its equipment
meet requirements in force at the time of expiration of the license period.
The license may be revoked if the ambulance or aid vehicle is found to be
operating in violation of the regulations promulgated by the department or
without required equipment. The license shall be terminated automatically if
the vehicle is sold or transferred to the control of anyone not currently
licensed as an ambulance or aid vehicle operator or director. The license
number shall be prominently displayed on each vehicle.
Sec.
4. RCW
18.73.150 and 1979 ex.s. c 261 s 15 are each amended to read as follows:
Any
ambulance operated as such shall operate with sufficient personnel for adequate
patient care, at least one of whom shall be an emergency medical technician
under standards promulgated by the secretary. The emergency medical technician
shall have responsibility for its operation and for the care of patients both
before they are placed aboard the vehicle and during transit. If there are two
or more emergency medical technicians operating the ambulance, a nondriving
medical technician shall be in command of the vehicle. The emergency medical
technician in command of the vehicle shall be in the patient compartment and in
attendance to the patient.
The
driver of the ambulance shall have at least a certificate of advance first aid
qualification recognized by the secretary pursuant to RCW 18.73.120 unless
there are at least two certified emergency medical technicians in attendance of
the patient, in which case the driver shall not be required to have such
certificate.
NEW
SECTION. Sec. 5. A new
section is added to chapter 18.73 RCW to read as follows:
The
uniform disciplinary act, chapter 18.130 RCW, shall govern the issuance and
denial of credentials, unauthorized practice, and the discipline of persons
credentialed under this chapter. The secretary shall act as the disciplinary
authority under this chapter. Disciplinary action shall be initiated against a
person credentialed under this chapter in a manner consistent with the
responsibilities and duties of the medical program director under whom such
person is responsible.
Sec.
6. RCW
18.130.040 and 1990 c 3 s 810 are each amended to read as follows:
(1)
This chapter applies only to the secretary and the boards having jurisdiction
in relation to the professions licensed under the chapters specified in this
section. This chapter does not apply to any business or profession not
licensed under the chapters specified in this section.
(2)(a)
The secretary has authority under this chapter in relation to the following
professions:
(i)
Dispensing opticians licensed under chapter 18.34 RCW;
(ii)
Naturopaths licensed under chapter 18.36A RCW;
(iii)
Midwives licensed under chapter 18.50 RCW;
(iv)
Ocularists licensed under chapter 18.55 RCW;
(v)
Massage operators and businesses licensed under chapter 18.108 RCW;
(vi)
Dental hygienists licensed under chapter 18.29 RCW;
(vii)
Acupuncturists certified under chapter 18.06 RCW;
(viii)
Radiologic technologists certified under chapter 18.84 RCW;
(ix)
Respiratory care practitioners certified under chapter 18.89 RCW;
(x)
Persons registered or certified under chapter 18.19 RCW;
(xi)
Persons registered as nursing pool operators;
(xii)
Nursing assistants registered or certified under chapter 18.52B RCW;
(xiii)
Dietitians and nutritionists certified under chapter 18.138 RCW; ((and))
(xiv)
Sex offender treatment providers certified under chapter 18.155 RCW; and
(xv)
Persons licensed and certified under chapter 18.73 RCW or RCW 18.71.205.
(b)
The boards having authority under this chapter are as follows:
(i)
The ((podiatry)) podiatric medical board as established in
chapter 18.22 RCW;
(ii)
The chiropractic disciplinary board as established in chapter 18.26 RCW
governing licenses issued under chapter 18.25 RCW;
(iii)
The dental disciplinary board as established in chapter 18.32 RCW;
(iv)
The council on hearing aids as established in chapter 18.35 RCW;
(v)
The board of funeral directors and embalmers as established in chapter 18.39
RCW;
(vi)
The board of examiners for nursing home administrators as established in chapter
18.52 RCW;
(vii)
The optometry board as established in chapter 18.54 RCW governing licenses
issued under chapter 18.53 RCW;
(viii)
The board of osteopathic medicine and surgery as established in chapter 18.57
RCW governing licenses issued under chapters 18.57 and 18.57A RCW;
(ix)
The medical disciplinary board as established in chapter 18.72 RCW governing
licenses and registrations issued under chapters 18.71 and 18.71A RCW;
(x)
The board of physical therapy as established in chapter 18.74 RCW;
(xi)
The board of occupational therapy practice as established in chapter 18.59 RCW;
(xii)
The board of practical nursing as established in chapter 18.78 RCW;
(xiii)
The examining board of psychology and its disciplinary committee as established
in chapter 18.83 RCW;
(xiv)
The board of nursing as established in chapter 18.88 RCW; and
(xv)
The veterinary board of governors as established in chapter 18.92 RCW.
(3) In
addition to the authority to discipline license holders, the disciplining
authority has the authority to grant or deny licenses based on the conditions
and criteria established in this chapter and the chapters specified in
subsection (2) of this section. However, the board of chiropractic examiners
has authority over issuance and denial of licenses provided for in chapter
18.25 RCW, the board of dental examiners has authority over issuance and denial
of licenses provided for in RCW 18.32.040, and the board of medical examiners
has authority over issuance and denial of licenses and registrations provided
for in chapters 18.71 and 18.71A RCW. This chapter also governs any
investigation, hearing, or proceeding relating to denial of licensure or
issuance of a license conditioned on the applicant's compliance with an order
entered pursuant to RCW 18.130.160 by the disciplining authority.
