PREPROPOSAL STATEMENT OF INQUIRY
Subject of Possible Rule Making: WAC 246-976-021 EMS and trauma training course requirements.
Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: RCW 18.71.205, 18.73.081, and 70.168.060.
Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: The above stated statutes give the Department of Health the authority to prescribe training standards for emergency medical services (EMS) personnel. These standards help provide for a consistent, coordinated and preplanned response by quality trained prehospital providers. WAC 246-976-021 establishes the specific training standards to be followed by EMS personnel in Washington state. The proposed rule amendments are housekeeping changes that would correct a current discrepancy between the identifying title of the current emergency medical technician (EMT) training course curriculum as printed and its reference in WAC, remove unnecessary lessons from IV technician and airway technician level curriculums, and remove excess verbiage in describing training course requirements.
Other Federal and State Agencies that Regulate this Subject and the Process Coordinating the Rule with These Agencies: No other federal or state agency regulates this subject.
Process for Developing New Rule: Statutory and other EMS and trauma care committees, councils, personnel and constituents will participate in the review of the proposed rule changes through open public meetings and other forms of communication (mail, e-mail, Internet, etc.). Appropriate drafts of rules and meeting dates will be either mailed or e-mailed to them.
Interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the new rule and formulation of the proposed rule before publication. Statewide public review of the draft proposed rule language will be available at appropriate open public meetings and through other forms of communication (mail, e-mail, etc.). The final draft of the proposed WAC amended language will be sent out to all affected and interested parties before the formal public hearing is held.
Any questions or concerns regarding the EMS and trauma training course requirements (WAC 246-976-021) should contact Richard Benjamin, Manager, Education and Training Section, Office of Emergency Medical and Trauma Prevention, P.O. Box 47853, Olympia, WA 98504-7853, e-mail (dick.benjamin@doh.wa.gov), phone (360) 236-2841 or fax (360) 236-2829.
April 21, 2003
Mary C. Selecky
Secretary