1. A. To be eligible for approval an applicant:

   1. (1) May not be subject to licensure as a commercial service under Education Article, §13-515, Annotated Code of Maryland;
   2. (2) Shall retain an EMS operational program medical director whose qualifications and duties are consistent with the requirements of COMAR 30.03.03;

   3. (3) Shall have a written agreement with the EMS operational program medical director addressing:

      1. (a) The medical director's:

         1. (i) Duties,
         2. (ii) Authority, and
         3. (iii) Responsibilities; and

      2. (b) The jurisdictional EMS operational program's:

         1. (i) Duties,
         2. (ii) Authority, and
         3. (iii) Responsibilities; and
      3. (c) Other terms as the parties may agree upon;
   4. (4) Shall maintain a comprehensive quality assurance program consistent with the requirements of COMAR 30.03.04;
   5. (5) Shall meet the requirements of the Maryland Ambulance Information System under Public Safety Article, §8-103(b)(7), Annotated Code of Maryland, and COMAR 30.03.04.04;
   6. (6) Shall provide remedial education as necessary for affiliated EMS providers;

   7. (7) If also seeking approval as an emergency medical dispatch program shall utilize:

      1. (a) EMDs to provide medical:

         1. (i) Interrogation,
         2. (ii) Prioritization,
         3. (iii) Resource allocation,
         4. (iv) Resource management, and
         5. (v) Prearrival instructions; and
      2. (b) An emergency medical dispatch priority reference system approved by MIEMSS;
   8. (8) If also seeking approval as a specialty care transport program, meet the requirements of COMAR 30.09.14; and
   9. (9) Designate an EMS operational program quality assurance officer whose qualifications and duties are consistent with the requirements of COMAR 30.03.04.08.
   10. (10) Shall have an Infection Control Program consistent with the requirements of COMAR 30.03.09.

2. B. A jurisdictional EMS operational program may not provide interfacility specialty care transport from one hospital to another unless the ambulance used is at least an ALS ambulance, and either:

   1. (1) The jurisdictional EMS operational program is approved as a specialty care transport ambulance service; or

   2. (2) The following conditions are met:

      1. (a) A staffed and equipped specialty care transport ambulance is not available within a clinically reasonable time, as determined by the referring physician;
      2. (b) The sending facility provides health care personnel authorized by law to provide the level of care required by the patient during transport, which may include a nurse meeting the requirements of COMAR 10.27.09.04C(2); and
      3. (c) Required specialty equipment is available.
3. C. The EMS Board shall approve only jurisdictional EMS operational programs that are consistent with the goals and objectives of the EMS plan under Education Article, §13-509, Annotated Code of Maryland.

Authority: Education Article, §§13-509, 13-510, and 13-516, Annotated Code of Maryland

Effective date: December 15, 1999 (26:24 Md. R. 1859)

Regulation .02 amended effective January 15, 2005 (32:16 Md. R. 1866)

Regulation .02A amended effective December 19, 2005 (32:25 Md. R. 1945); October 8, 2007 (34:20 Md. R. 1742); January 13, 2011 (38:1 Md. R. 12)

Regulation .02B amended effective September 1, 2014 (41:17 Md. R. 971)