DAR File No. 27522

Health, Health Systems Improvement, Emergency Medical Services

R426-15

Licensed and Designated Provider Operations

NOTICE OF PROPOSED RULE

DAR File No.: 27522
Filed: 11/02/2004, 01:59
Received by: NL

RULE ANALYSIS

Purpose of the rule or reason for the change:

This proposed amendment ensures and requires standardized training and caller response procedures in all Emergency Medical Dispatch Centers in Utah. It also requires certified dispatchers in Emergency Medical Dispatch Centers.

Summary of the rule or change:

The amendment require all dispatch centers that are designated as Emergency Medical Dispatch Centers to utilize certified emergency medical dispatchers. It also allows a six-month period for new employee dispatchers to become certified.

State statutory or constitutional authorization for this rule:

Title 12, Chapter 8a

Anticipated cost or savings to:

the state budget:

No anticipated costs or savings to State budget because certifying the additional dispatchers will be covered within existing funds and the certification fees collected.

local governments:

It is estimated that roughly 200 of 700+ medical dispatchers are not certified. If all dispatch agencies pay the costs for their uncertified dispatchers, the costs because of this rulemaking and companion amendments to Rule R426-13 range from a low of $6,400 to a high of $37,000 depending on choice of certification process. (DAR NOTE: The proposed amendment to Rule R426-13 is under DAR No. 27521 in this issue.)

other persons:

It is anticipated that most of the dispatch agencies will cover the costs for their respective employees. However, the number not covered by their employers is uncertain. If no dispatch agency pays for any of their employees, the cost because of this rulemaking and companion amendments to Rule R426-13 may range up to $37,000.

Compliance costs for affected persons:

Costs to Emergency Medical Dispatch Centers that choose to pay employee costs may be up to $32 per person. This includes background check and applicable testing fees and certification processing fees. Costs to train and educate dispatchers for certification average between $100 and $185 per person in the open market and may be less if trained in-house by the dispatch agency.

Comments by the department head on the fiscal impact the rule may have on businesses:

To ensure adequate training and standardized caller response procedures in all Emergency Medical Dispatch Centers in Utah, this rule proposes to mandate a minimum level of training for all dispatchers in designated centers. The businesses impacted by this change have been involved in developing the rule. The cost is minimal compared to the benefit this training provides. Scott D. Williams, MD

The full text of this rule may be inspected, during regular business hours, at the Division of Administrative Rules, or at:

Direct questions regarding this rule to:

Don Wood at the above address, by phone at 801-538-6287, by FAX at 801-538-6808, or by Internet E-mail at donwood@utah.gov

Interested persons may present their views on this rule by submitting written comments to the address above no later than 5:00 p.m. on:

01/03/2005

This rule may become effective on:

01/04/2005

Authorized by:

Scott D. Williams, Executive Director

RULE TEXT

R426. Health, Health Systems Improvement, Emergency Medical Services.

R426-15. Licensed and Designated Provider Operations.

R426-15-300. Emergency Medical Dispatch Center.

(1) An emergency medical dispatch center must annually provide organizational information to the Department including:

([1]a) The number of EMD certified personnel;

([2]b) Name of the dispatch supervisor;

([3]c) Name of the agency's off-line medical director; and

([4]d) Updated address and contact information.

(2) Emergency medical dispatch centers may only provide pre-arrival medical instructions through a certified EMD.

(3) An emergency medical dispatch center must have an offline medical director. The offline medical director must review and approve the emergency medical dispatch center's pre-arrival medical instructions.

KEY: emergency medical services

[January 1, 2004]2005

Notice of Continuation October 1, 2004

26-8a

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

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For questions regarding the content or application of this rule, please contact Don Wood at the above address, by phone at 801-538-6287, by FAX at 801-538-6808, or by Internet E-mail at donwood@utah.gov

For questions about the rulemaking process, please contact the Division of Administrative Rules (801-538-3764). Please Note: The Division of Administrative Rules is NOT able to answer questions about the content or application of these administrative rules.