N.J. Admin. Code § 8:40A-1.3 - Definitions

The following words and terms, as utilized in this chapter, shall have the following meanings, unless the context in which they are utilized clearly indicates otherwise.

"Advanced life support" or "ALS" means an advanced level of pre-hospital, inter-facility or emergency medical care that includes basic life support functions, cardiac monitoring, cardiac defibrillation, telemetered electrocardiography, administration of anti-arrhythmic agents, intravenous (IV) therapy, administration of specific medications, drugs and solutions, utilization of adjunctive ventilation devices, trauma care and other techniques and procedures authorized in writing by the Commissioner.

"Advanced practice nurse" means a person who is validly licensed by the New Jersey Board of Nursing in accordance with the standards set forth at 45:11-45 et seq.

"AHA CPR Guidelines" means these guidelines as published by the American Heart Association, National Center, 7272 Greenville Avenue, Dallas, TX 75231-4596, incorporated herein by reference as amended and supplemented. A copy of the guidelines is on file and available for inspection at the Office of Emergency Medical Services.

"Air medical unit" or "AMU" means a specially equipped helicopter or airplane that is validly licensed by the Department and operated in accordance with the standards set forth at N.J.A.C. 8:41.

"Airplane" means, as defined at 14 C.F.R. 1.1, an engine-driven fixed-wing aircraft heavier than air, which is supported in flight by the dynamic reaction of the air against its wings.

"Automated external defibrillator" or "AED" means a device that can be attached to a patient in cardiopulmonary arrest, analyze an electrocardiogram for the presence of potentially lethal dysrhythmias (specifically, ventricular fibrillation and fast ventricular tachycardia), deliver an electrical defibrillation to the patient in accordance with the requirements of standard treatment protocols, and produce an event summary that documents significant events in the utilization of the device, specifically events prior to and after an electrical defibrillation.

"Available" means ready for immediate utilization (pertaining to equipment, vehicles and personnel) or immediately accessible (pertaining to records).

"Basic life support" or "BLS" means a basic level of pre-hospital care that includes patient stabilization, airway clearance and maintenance, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) (to the level of the Professional Rescuer or Health Care Provider as issued by either the American Heart Association, the American Red Cross, the National Safety Council or other entity determined by the Department to comply with AHA CPR Guidelines), hemorrhage control, initial wound care, fracture stabilization, victim extrication and other techniques and procedures as defined in the program curriculum.

"Basic life support ambulance" or "BLS ambulance" means an emergency medical services vehicle that is validly licensed by the Department and operated in accordance with the standards set forth at N.J.A.C. 8:40.

"Basic life support ambulance service" or "BLS ambulance service" means an entity that is validly licensed by the Department to provide pre-hospital basic life support care; and/or BLS inter-facility transfers.

"Certified" or "certification" means official documentation that a person or agency has completed all the requirements of an approved training program and has demonstrated competence in the subject matter to the satisfaction of the certifying agency.

"Certificate of need" means the formal written approval of the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services to construct or expand a health care facility or to institute a new health care service, in accordance with requirements set forth at N.J.A.C. 8:33.

"Commissioner" means the Commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services.

"Controlled dangerous substance" means a drug, substance or immediate precursor identified in Schedules I through V of the New Jersey Controlled Dangerous Substances Act (24:21-5 through 24:21-8.1 ). The term shall not include distilled spirits, wine or malt beverages, as those terms are defined or utilized in 33:1-1 et seq., or tobacco and tobacco products.

"Convicted" or "conviction" means a finding of guilt by a judge or jury, a guilty plea, a plea of nolo contendere or non-vult or entry into a pre-trial intervention program or other diversionary program authorized under the statutes of the State of New Jersey or under any other state's statutes.

"Core 13" means a New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services, Office of Emergency Medical Services approved EMT-B continuing education training program that includes the entire refresher program curriculum, to be taught in a period of no less than 24 classroom hours.

"CPR certification" means valid certification in cardiopulmonary resuscitation to the level of the Professional Rescuer or Health Care Provider as issued by the American Heart Association, the American Red Cross, the National Safety Council or other entity determined by the Department to comply with AHA CPR Guidelines.

"Crewmember" means any person (including, but not limited to, an EMT-Basic) who staffs a basic life support ambulance or a mobility assistance vehicle.

"Crime" means, in accordance with the New Jersey Code of Criminal Justice, specifically 2C:1-4, any offense for which a sentence of imprisonment in excess of six months is authorized.

"Department" means the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services.

"Disorderly persons offense" or "petty disorderly persons offense" shall have the same meaning as the definition provided by the New Jersey Code of Criminal Justice at 2C:1-4, incorporated herein by reference, as amended and supplemented. Generally, such offenses are under the jurisdiction of municipal courts, carry a maximum jail term of six months or less, and are characterized by being minor in nature, not giving rise to the rights of trial by jury or indictment by grand jury. Examples of offenses include harassment, obstructing a public passage, and fighting in a public place.

"Emergency" means a person's perceived need for immediate medical care in order to prevent death or aggravation of physiological or psychological illness or injury.

"Emergency medical services" or "EMS" means a system for the provision of emergency care and transportation of persons who are sick or injured and in need of immediate medical care.

"Emergency Medical Technician-Basic" or "EMT-Basic" means a person trained in basic life support care and validly certified or recognized by the Commissioner in accordance with the standards for Emergency Medical Technician-Basic certification as set forth in this chapter.

"Emergency Medical Technician-Paramedic" or "EMT-Paramedic" means a person trained in advanced life support care and validly certified or recognized by the Commissioner in accordance with the standards for Emergency Medical Technician-Paramedic certification as set forth at N.J.A.C. 8:41A.

"Emergency Medical Technician Training Fund" or "EMT Training Fund" means the fund established by 26:2K-54 et seq., to reimburse any private agency, organization or entity that is certified by the Commissioner in accordance with the standards for certification set forth in this chapter, to provide training and testing for volunteer ambulance, first aid and rescue squad members who are seeking EMT-Basic certification or recertification, and for which that entity is not otherwise reimbursed.

"EMT-Instructor" means a person who is validly certified by the Commissioner in accordance with the standards for EMT-Instructor certification as set forth in this chapter.

"EMT-Instructor Aide" means a person who is validly certified by the Commissioner as an EMT-Basic, is affiliated with a training program and assists the EMT-Instructor with the training curriculum.

"EMT-B Statewide Faculty" means a body of persons appointed by the Office of Emergency Medical Services who are experienced in the education of the adult student, the delivery of emergency medical services and the training of pre-hospital care givers. The Faculty's purpose is to assist the Department in the implementation of the program curriculum.

"Field preceptor" means a person who possesses a higher level of expertise in both the subject matter and field training requirements of EMT-Basic students. A field preceptor shall be responsible for monitoring EMT-Basic students in the demonstration of knowledge and in the performance of skills during the course of a student's required field experience.

"General hospital" shall have the meaning provided at 8:43G-1.3(b)1, as amended and supplemented.

"Helicopter" means a heavier-than-air aircraft that depends principally for its support in flight on the lift generated by one or more rotors.

"Medical record" means any information and/or reports (including, but not limited to, patient care reports) that describe a person's physical condition and/or medical history.

"Minor" means a person who has attained the age of 16 but has not yet attained the age of 18.

"Mobile intensive care hospital" means an acute care hospital authorized by the Commissioner, by way of a certificate of need, to develop and maintain a mobile intensive care program for the purpose of providing advanced life support care to a specific population, geographic region or political subdivision.

"Mobile intensive care program" means a program, operated by a mobile intensive care hospital, which is validly licensed by the Department to provide pre-hospital advanced life support care by way of a specially equipped and staffed mobile intensive care unit.

"Mobile intensive care unit" or "MICU" means a specialized emergency medical services vehicle that is validly licensed by the Department and operated in accordance with the standards set forth at N.J.A.C. 8:41.

"Mobility assistance vehicle" or "MAV" means a specialized transport vehicle that is validly licensed by the Department and operated in accordance with the standards set forth at N.J.A.C. 8:40.

"NREMT" means The National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians, which is a professional testing agency specializing in the development of evaluation instruments designed for utilization by various states in the certification and registration of emergency medical services professionals. The NREMT is headquartered at the Rocco V. Morando Building, 6610 Busch Boulevard, PO Box 29233, Columbus, OH 43229-0233.

"Office of Emergency Medical Services" or "OEMS" means the Office of Emergency Medical Services in the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services, PO Box 360, Trenton, New Jersey, 08625. The telephone number for OEMS is (609) 633-7777.

"Official NREMT representative" means a person responsible for the administration of the written portion of the NREMT-Basic Certification Examination. Official NREMT representatives are appointed by the Office of Emergency Medical Services and are trained by the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians, in accordance with its standards and guidelines, to conduct all NREMT-Basic examination related activities.

"Patient" means any person who is ill or injured, living or deceased and with whom a crewmember has established physical or verbal contact.

"Patient care report" means and includes the written documentation completed each time a crewmember makes physical or verbal contact with a patient.

"Physician" means a person who is validly licensed by the New Jersey State Board of Medical Examiners in accordance with the standards set forth at 45:9-6.

"Physician assistant" means a person who is validly licensed by the New Jersey State Board of Medical Examiners in accordance with the standards set forth at N.J.S.A. 45:9-27.1 3.

"Pre-hospital" means the period of time prior to the delivery of a patient to a physician or registered nurse at an acute care hospital or satellite emergency department.

"Program curriculum" means the EMT-Basic: National Standard Curriculum or the EMT-Basic Refresher: National Standard Curriculum (as applicable to either an EMT-Basic training or continuing education program), promulgated by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration of the United States Department of Transportation, incorporated herein by reference as amended and supplemented. Copies of the program curricula may be obtained from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 400 7th St. SW, Washington, D.C. 20590, or via the Internet at http:// http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/people/injury/ems/nsc.htm.

"Program instructor" means a person who possesses a high level of expertise in the subject matter of the didactic initial and continuing education requirements of EMT-Basic students as evidenced by certification from a nationally recognized organization, certification from another state or jurisdiction, possession of degrees and/or advanced degrees from post-secondary institutions of higher learning such as colleges and universities and/or submission to the Department of a curriculum vitae that outlines the individual's education and experience relative to the subject matter.

"Refresher curriculum" means the EMT-Basic Refresher National Standard Curriculum, promulgated by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration of the United States Department of Transportation, incorporated herein by reference as amended and supplemented. The course is intended for the EMS Community to refresh their current skills. Copies of the Refresher Curriculum may be obtained from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 400 7th Street S.W., Washington, D.C. 20590, or via the Internet at http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/people/injury/ems/nsc.htm. This course was developed by the National Association of EMS Educators.

"Registered nurse" means a person who is validly licensed by the New Jersey State Board of Nursing in accordance with the standards set forth at 45:11-26.

"Remediation" means the formal process by which students who are experiencing difficulties following the lesson plan receive a formal review of any and all cognitive and psychomotor objectives associated with a specific module.

"Respiratory care practitioner" means a person who is validly licensed by the New Jersey State Board of Respiratory Care in accordance with the standards set forth at 45:14E-10.

"Revocation" or "revoked" means the permanent voiding, withdrawal and/or cancellation of a license or certification.

"Satellite emergency department" means a facility that is owned and operated by an acute care hospital, which provides emergency care and treatment.

"Specialty care transport unit" or "SCTU" means a specialized transport medical service vehicle that is validly licensed by the Department and operated in accordance with the standards set forth at N.J.A.C. 8:41.

"State Advisory Council" means the advisory body established pursuant to 26:2K-59.

"Training agency" means any private agency, organization or entity that has been certified by the Commissioner, in accordance with the standards for certification as set forth in this chapter, to provide training and testing to persons who are seeking EMT-Basic certification or recertification. Certified training agencies shall be eligible for reimbursement from the Emergency Medical Technician Training Fund for the training and testing of volunteer ambulance, first aid and rescue squad members.

"Valid" or "validly" means original (not a photo copy), current, up-to-date, not expired, in effect and/or not past the renewal date required by the issuer.

"Volunteer ambulance, first aid or rescue squad" means, in accordance with 27:5F-20, an ambulance, first aid or rescue squad that provides emergency medical services without receiving payment for those services. Whether the individual members of a squad provide their services for free or are compensated by the squad is irrelevant to a squad's volunteer status.

"Volunteer ambulance, first aid or rescue squad member" means a person who is a member of, or is an applicant to become a member of, a volunteer ambulance, first aid or rescue squad, as attested to by the chief supervising officer of that squad.

Notes

N.J. Admin. Code § 8:40A-1.3