Utah Admin. Code R911-10-26 - Air Ambulance Provider Medical Director Qualifications

(1) An air ambulance provider's medical director who oversees the practice of the EMS during patient transport shall be familiar with Utah medical practices and licensing requirements.

(2) An air ambulance provider's medical director shall be a Utah licensed physician in good standing to supervise the medical care provided in an air medical environment.

(3) A medical director shall:

(a) be board certified or board-eligible in EMS, emergency medicine, or other appropriate critical care specialty that services the patient population involved;

(b) have experience in the care of patients consistent with the licensing and mission profile of the air ambulance provider's service;

(c) designate other medical physician specialists for direction outside medical director's area of practice as appropriate to the air ambulance provider's service mission profile;

(d) have access to medical specialists for consultation regarding patients whose illness and care needs are outside the medical director's area of practice;

(e) have a current DEA registration; and

(f) have current credentials achieved through active participation in patient care and continuing medical education activities appropriate for the role of an air ambulance provider's medical director.

(4) An air ambulance provider's medical director shall have familiarity in the following areas:

(a) care of patients in the air medical environment, including the impact of altitude and other patient stressors, in-flight assessment and care, monitoring capabilities, and limitations of the flight environment;

(b) hazardous materials recognition and response;

(c) management of disaster and mass casualty events;

(d) infection control and prevention;

(e) advanced resuscitation and care of adult, pediatric, and neonatal patients with both traumatic and non-traumatic diagnoses;

(f) quality improvement theories and applications;

(g) principles of adult learning;

(h) capabilities and limitations of care in air ambulance;

(i) applicable federal, state, and local law, rules, and protocols related to air ambulance providers and state trauma rule guidelines;

(j) air ambulance dispatch and communications; and

(k) ethical and legal issues related to air medical transport.

(5) An air ambulance provider's medical director roles and responsibilities shall include:

(a) oversight of medical care provided by the air medical service provider;

(b) ensure competency and currency of medical personnel;

(c) active engagement in the evaluation credentialing, initial training, and continuing education of personnel who provide patient care;

(d) development and approval of written patient care guidelines, policies and protocols, including those addressing the adverse impact of altitude on patient physiology and stressors of transport; and

(e) active engagement in quality management, utilization review, and safety reviews.

Notes

Utah Admin. Code R911-10-26

Adopted by Utah State Bulletin Number 2024-14, effective 7/1/2024