1. A. Certification required. An emergency medical dispatch agency shall not operate within the state of New Mexico, nor dispatch calls within or from the state of New Mexico, nor represent itself to be an emergency medical dispatch agency operating in the state of New Mexico or dispatching calls within or from the state of New Mexico, unless the emergency medical dispatch agency holds a valid certificate in accordance with this rule.
2. B. Minimum requirements for medical dispatch agencies. A certified medical dispatch agency shall utilize an emergency medical dispatch priority reference system that is published by a bureau-approved source and that is used by licensed emergency medical dispatchers. A medical dispatch agency shall utilize only licensed EMDs for emergency medical dispatch.
3. C. Exceptions for medical dispatch agencies. In the event of a large scale emergency or mass casualty incident, emergency medical dispatch agencies may suspend emergency medical dispatch for the duration of the incident to accommodate the unusual increase in call volume.

4. D. Emergency medical dispatch agency performance and certification. A medical dispatch agency shall be operated in a safe, efficient, and effective manner in accordance with this rule, and shall further comply with the following minimum standards:

   (1) an emergency medical dispatch agency shall, in accordance with any applicable requirements of this rule, implement and ensure that the agency’s medical director reviews, approves, and oversees:

   (a) an emergency medical dispatch priority reference system;

   (b) an emergency medical dispatch training program;

   (c) a quality assurance program;

   (d) an emergency medical dispatch oversight committee; and

   (e) an emergency medical dispatch continuing education program;

   (2) any emergency medical dispatch priority reference system, including but not limited to its questions, instructions, codes, and protocols, shall be utilized in its entirety, rather than in limited parts;

   (3) an emergency medical dispatch agency shall ensure that emergency medical dispatchers follow the questions and decision-making processes (flowcharts) within their emergency medical dispatch priority reference system in compliance with the written policies and procedures of their emergency medical dispatch agency, and as approved by the agency’s medical director;

   (4) an emergency medical dispatch agency shall use a bureau-approved emergency medical dispatch priority reference system on every request for medical assistance;

   (5) an emergency medical dispatch agency shall ensure that each emergency medical dispatcher provides dispatch life support (including but not limited to pre-arrival instructions) in compliance with the written text or scripts and other processes within the approved emergency medical dispatch priority reference system;

   (6) an emergency medical dispatch agency shall maintain and utilize policies and procedures for the safe and effective use of the agency’s approved emergency medical dispatch priority reference system;

   (7) an emergency medical dispatch agency shall ensure that emergency medical dispatchers maintain valid licensure in accordance with 7.27.2 NMAC (“Licensing of Emergency Medical Services Personnel”);

   (8) an emergency medical dispatch agency shall set minimum training requirements that meet state standards for emergency medical dispatcher certification;

   (9) an emergency medical dispatch agency shall, with the written approval and supervision of the agency’s medical director and with the input of the agency’s emergency medical dispatch oversight committee, establish a continuous quality assurance program that measures various areas of compliance with the emergency medical dispatch priority reference system;

   (10) an emergency medical dispatch agency shall maintain and utilize the most current version of the bureau-approved emergency medical dispatch priority reference system selected for use by the emergency medical dispatch agency within six months of its publication; the most current version of the priority reference system shall also be approved in writing by the emergency medical dispatch medical director;

   (11) an emergency medical dispatch agency’s emergency medical dispatch oversight committee shall:

   (a) establish local medical standards for dispatch procedures to assure the appropriate EMS response units are dispatched to the medical emergency scene;

   (b) develop a relevant emergency medical dispatch system;

   (c) develop relevant local standing orders and protocol as needed;

   (d) establish and monitor training standards for initial and continuing education; and

   (e) plan, develop and implement the EMS agency’s quality assurance program.

5. E. Pre-approved EMD priority reference systems. The bureau shall identify pre-approved standardized emergency medical dispatch priority reference systems for selection and use by local emergency medical dispatch agencies.

[7.27.10.20 NMAC - N, 3/15/2010]