Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. R. 511-9-2-.18 - Standards of Conduct for Licensees

In order to protect the public and ensure the integrity of the emergency medical response system, all persons licensed by the Department pursuant to Chapter 31-11, all owners and officers of entities licensed pursuant to Chapter 31-11, and all applicants for a license pursuant to Chapter 31-11 (hereinafter licensees) shall at all times meet the following standards of conduct:

(1) A licensee shall comply at all times with the provisions of Chapter 31-11 and the Rules and Regulations of the Department.

(2) A licensee shall not obtain a license by fraud, forgery, deception, misrepresentation, or omission of a material fact.

(3) A licensee shall not present a check to the Department for which there are insufficient funds in the account.

(4) A licensee shall not tamper with, alter, or change any license issued by the Department.

(5) A licensee shall fully cooperate with the Department and its agents during the course of any investigation or inspection, and provide true information upon request.

(6) A licensee shall take no action in any other jurisdiction that would result in a fine, suspension, or revocation of any license similar to that issued to the licensee pursuant to Chapter 31-11.

(7) A licensee shall not advertise its services in a false or misleading manner.

(8) A licensee shall not provide any type or level of service that is not authorized by its license or by law.

(9) A licensee shall not provide services while its license is suspended, or revoked, inactive, or has lapsed for failure to renew, whether personally or through employees, agents, or volunteers.

(10) A licensee shall correct as soon as practicable all violations and deficiencies found during a Department inspection.

(11) A licensee's equipment shall be clean and in proper operating condition at all times.

(12) A licensee shall not falsify any record, patient care report, other report or record, or any other document which the licensee is required to maintain under state or federal law or Department regulations or policies.

(13) A licensee shall not employ fraud or misrepresentation to obtain a fee or any reimbursement in the course of Emergency Medical Services or other services under its licensure.

(14) A licensee shall report to the Department within ten days the bringing of any criminal charges against the licensee, whether by arrest warrant, information, accusation, or indictment. This subsection shall not apply to minor traffic offenses.

(15) A licensee shall, upon request by the Department, submit copies or permit inspection of any document, which the licensee is required to maintain under state or federal law or Department regulations.

(16) A licensee shall not provide services while under the influence of drugs or alcohol, nor permit any employee or co-worker to do so.

(17) A licensee shall use no less than the requisite number of licensed individuals applicable to its license.

(18) A licensee shall act with due regard for the safety of patients and the public in the operation of an emergency vehicle, and shall not use vehicle warning devices unnecessarily or in a manner that endangers the safety of the patient or the public.

(19) A licensee shall not aid or abet the unlicensed practice of emergency medical care.

(20) A licensee shall not accept anything of value in return for a patient referral.

(21) A licensee shall abide by all Regional Ambulance Zoning Plans.

(22) A licensee shall take no action that would jeopardize the health or safety of a patient, including without limitation the abandonment or mistreatment of a patient.

(23) A licensee shall pay all administrative fines in full within thirty days.

(24) A licensee shall display proper identification at all times while on duty, including the Georgia level of licensure.

(25) A licensee shall maintain the confidentiality of all patient records and information and shall not disclose any confidential information or knowledge concerning a patient except where required or allowed by law.

(26) A licensee shall take no action that may result in a criminal conviction on a felony charge, a crime of moral turpitude, or the crime of driving under the influence or possession of a controlled substance.

(27) An EMS Instructor or EMS Instructor/Coordinator licensee shall maintain student records as required by the Department, and shall meet all license renewal requirements.

(28) An EMS Instructor/Coordinator licensee serving as the Program Director of a designated EMS Initial Education Program shall ensure that all state, national, and applicable accreditation requirements are met for each student before validating that the student has completed the course and/or is clear to test the National Registry exam for the respective level of initial education.

(29) A licensee shall not discriminate on the basis of national origin, race, color, creed, religion, gender, sexual orientation, age, economic status, or physical or mental ability in providing services.

(30) A licensee shall not violate any lawful order of the Department.

(31) A licensee shall not violate any statute, rule or regulation, state or federal, which pertains to Emergency Medical Services.

(32) A licensee shall not violate the security of any exam or exam material for purposes of obtaining or maintaining an EMS license by any means including but not limited to removing any exam materials from an examination area, the unauthorized possession of exam materials, the unauthorized reproduction of exam materials, impersonating an examinee, or having another person take an exam on behalf of a licensee.

(33) An EMS Instructor or EMS Instructor/Coordinator serving as the Program Director, Course Coordinator, Lead Instructor, Clinical Coordinator, or other instructional staff in a EMS Initial Education course shall ensure that all data related to any student, instructor or preceptor that is submitted to or required by the Department is accurate and factual and complies with all state, national, and applicable accreditation requirements.

(34) A licensee shall not issue a certificate of credit/completion for EMS continuing education hours to any person without the person meeting the EMS continuing education completion requirements as specified by the Department for the respective EMS continuing education course.

(35) A licensee shall take no action that would jeopardize the health, safety, or wellbeing of a student, including without limitation the abandonment or mistreatment of a student.

(36) A licensee shall at no time violate, exceed, or disregard the Department specified Scope of Practice for their respective license level(s).

(37) A licensee shall not make false or misleading statements in any oral, written, or electronic report regarding the provision of emergency medical care to any patient.

(38) A licensee shall not destroy or cause to be destroyed any patient care report.

(39) A licensee shall not fail to respond to a call while on duty and shall not leave their duty assignment without the proper approval.

(40) A licensee shall not delegate EMS functions to a person who lacks the education, training, experience, knowledge, or licensure to provide appropriate level of care for the patient.

(41) A licensee shall not falsify, misrepresent, or alter clinical, field and/or internship documents for EMS students.

(42) A licensee shall not behave in a disruptive manner toward other EMS personnel, law enforcement, firefighters, hospital personnel, other medical personnel, patients, family members or others, that interferes with patient care or could be reasonably expected to adversely impact the quality of care rendered to a patient.

(43) A licensee shall not fail to protect and/or advocate for patients/clients/students and/or the public from unnecessary risk of harm from another EMS personnel.

(44) A licensee shall not misappropriate medications, supplies, equipment, personal items, or money belonging to the patient, employer or any other person or entity.

(45) A licensee shall not misrepresent any level of certification or licensure.

(46) A licensee shall not refuse a drug screen where the drug screen is requested from an employer, based on a reasonable suspicion that drug screening is necessary.

(47) A licensee shall be responsible for completing the patient care report for all EMS responses made by the licensee and ensuring that each PCR is factual and accurate before the end of the current work shift as described in 511-9-2-.14 (3) b.

Notes

Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. R. 511-9-2-.18

O.C.G.A. §§ 31-2A-3, 31-2A-6, 31-11-5, 31-11-6, 31-11-9, 31-11-30, 31-11-36, 31-11-56, 31-11-57, 50-13-18.

Original Rule entitled "Standards of Conduct for Licensees" adopted. F. December 14, 2011; eff. January 3, 2012. Amended: F. Apr. 27, 2016; eff. May 17, 2016. Amended: F. Oct. 20, 2020; eff. Nov. 18, 2020, as specified by the Agency. Amended: F. Sept. 29, 2021; eff. Oct. 27, 2021, as specified by the Agency. Amended: F. Feb. 17, 2025; eff. Mar. 16, 2025, as specified by the Agency.