T he board shall approve a program of study for a critical care or flight paramedic that focuses on providing patient care in the pre-hospital, inter-hospital, and hospital settings . The program must include courses on:

1. (1) Critical care transport methods and safety;
2. (2) Assessing and packaging a critically ill patient for safe transport;

3. (3) Demonstrating skill competencies while performing:

   1. (a) Surgical and needle cricothyrotomy;
   2. (b) Chest tube insertion;
   3. (c) Pericardiocentesis;
   4. (d) Central venous access; and
   5. (e) Focused assessment with sonography for trauma exams and intraosseous access;
4. (4) Analyzing and interpreting diagnostic laboratory and x-ray results;

5. (5) Identifying and managing blood and blood products and the following common critical care medications:

   1. (a) Antibiotic;
   2. (b) Anticoagulant;
   3. (c) Antiepileptic;
   4. (d) Immunological;
   5. (e) Vasoactive; and
   6. (f) Fibrinolytic;
6. (6) Interpreting invasive and noninvasive hemodynamic pressures, waveforms, and values;
7. (7) Maintaining patients on an intra-aorta balloon pump and left ventricular assist device in a transport setting;

8. (8) Understanding the purpose and maintenance of

   1. (a) Chest tubes;
   2. (b) Central lines;
   3. (c) Intravenous pumps;
   4. (d) Medication pumps; and
   5. (e) Hemodynamic monitoring devices and equipment;
9. (9) Recognizing proper mechanical ventilator settings, modes, and parameters;
10. (10) Applying a ventilator with proper settings; and
11. (11) Assessing and managing common critical care conditions in all patient populations.

Source: 50 SDR 12, effective August 10, 2023; 51 SDR 56, effective November 19, 2024 .

General Authority: SDCL 36-4B-35 .

Law Implemented: SDCL 36-4B-18.1 .

Prior versions effective: 2023-08-10.