As used in this article, and unless otherwise specified, the term:

1. (a) "Ambulance" means a vehicle maintained or operated by a licensed provider who has obtained the necessary permits and licenses for the transportation of persons who are sick, injured, wounded, or otherwise incapacitated.
2. (b) "Attendant" means a trained and qualified individual responsible for the operation of an ambulance and the care of the patients, regardless of whether the attendant also serves as driver.
3. (c) "Attendant-driver" means a person who is qualified as an attendant and a driver.
4. (d) "Driver" means an individual who drives or otherwise operates an ambulance.
5. (e) "Permit" means an authorization issued for an ambulance vehicle which meets the standards adopted pursuant to this article.
6. (f) "License" means an authorization to a person, firm, corporation, or governmental division or agency to provide emergency medical, services in the State.
7. (g) "Licensee" means any person, firm, corporation, or governmental division or agency possessing authorization, permit, license, or certification to provide emergency medical service in this State.
8. (h) "Certificate" means official acknowledgment by the department that an individual has completed successfully one of the appropriate emergency medical technician training courses referred to in this article in addition to completing successfully the requisite examinations, which entitles that individual to perform the functions and duties as delineated by the classification for which the certificate was issued.
9. (i) "Board" means the governing body of the Department of Health and Environmental Control or its designated representative.
10. (j) "Emergency medical service system" means the arrangement of personnel, facilities, and equipment for the delivery of health care services under emergency conditions.
11. (k) "Emergency medical technician" (technician) means an individual possessing a valid, basic, intermediate, or paramedic certificate issued by the State pursuant to the provisions of this article.
12. (l) "Standards" means the required measurable components of an emergency medical service system having permanent and recognized value that provide adequate emergency health care delivery.
13. (m) "Authorized agent" means any individual designated to represent the department.
14. (n) "Patient" means an individual who is sick, injured, wounded, or otherwise incapacitated or helpless.
15. (o) "Operator" means an individual, firm, partnership, association, corporation, company, group, or individuals acting together for a common purpose or organization of any kind, including any governmental agency other than the United States.
16. (p) "Department" means the administrative agency known as the Department of Health and Environmental Control.
17. (q) "National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians Registration' is given to an individual who has completed successfully the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians examination and its requirements.
18. (r) "In-service training" means a course of training approved by the department that is conducted by the licensed provider for his personnel at his prime location.
19. (s) "Convalescent vehicle" means a vehicle that is used for making nonemergency calls such as scheduled visits to a physician's office or hospital for treatment, routine physical examinations, x-rays or laboratory tests, or is used for transporting patients upon discharge from a hospital or nursing home to a hospital or nursing home or residence, or other nonemergency calls.
20. (t) "EMT First Responder Agency" means a licensed agency providing medical care at the EMT Basic level or above, as a nontransporting first responder.

21. (u) "Emergency transport" means services and transportation provided after the sudden onset of a medical condition manifesting itself by acute symptoms of such severity including severe pain that the absence of medical attention could reasonably be expected to result in the following:

    1. (1) placing the patient's health in serious jeopardy;
    2. (2) causing serious impairment to bodily functions;
    3. (3) causing serious dysfunction of bodily organ or part; or
    4. (4) a situation that resulted from an accident, injury, acute illness, unconsciousness, or shock, for example, required oxygen or other emergency treatment, required the patient to remain immobile because of a fracture, stroke, heart attack, or severe hemorrhage.
22. (v) "Nonemergency transport" means services and transportation provided to a patient whose condition is considered stable. A stable patient is one whose condition reasonably can be expected to remain the same throughout the transport and for whom none of the criteria for emergency transport has been met. Prearranged transports scheduled at the convenience of the service or medical facility will be classified as a nonemergency transport.
23. (w) "Moral turpitude" means behavior that is not in conformity with and is considered deviant by societal standards.

24. (x) "Condition requiring an emergency response" means the sudden onset of a medical condition manifested by symptoms of such sufficient severity, including severe pain, that a prudent layperson who possesses an average knowledge of health and medicine could reasonably expect without medical attention, to result in:

    1. (1) serious illness or disability;
    2. (2) impairment of a bodily function;
    3. (3) dysfunction of the body; or
    4. (4) prolonged pain, psychiatric disturbance, or symptoms of withdrawal.
25. (y) "Revocation" means that the department has permanently voided a license, permit, or certificate and the holder no longer may perform the function associated with the license, permit, or certificate. The department will not reissue the license, permit, or certificate for a period of two years for a license or permit and three years for a certificate. At the end of this period, the holder may petition for reinstatement.
26. (z) "Suspension" means that the department has temporarily voided a license, permit, or certificate and the holder may not perform the function associated with the license, permit, or certificate until the holder has complied with the statutory requirements and other conditions imposed by the department.