SECTION 310:641-15-13. Emergency medical response agency medical control requirement

(a)   Each certified emergency medical response agency certified in Oklahoma shall have a physician medical director who is a fully licensed, non-restricted Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) or a Doctor of Osteopathy (D.O.) by the State of Oklahoma.

(b)   Certified emergency medical response agencies will have a plan or policy that describes how the agency will address a sudden lapse of medical direction, such as a back-up medical director, that is used to ensure coverage when the medical director is not available.

(1)   The Department shall be notified the next business day of any lapse or change of medical direction by the respective agency. If the agency has made arrangements for a back-up medical director or an immediate replacement, then a lapse has not occurred.

(2)   In the event of a lapse in medical direction, in that, there is no a medical director providing the authority for medical interventions for an agency's certified and licensed personnel, the agency will, pursuant to 63 O.S. Section 1-2506 relating to the medical authority to perform medical procedures:

(A)   cease all operations involving patient care, and

(B)   implement mutual aid plans to ensure requests for service receive responses until the agency is able to implement their plan or policy for substitution or back-up medical direction.

(c)   The medical director shall:

(1)   be accessible, knowledgeable, and actively involved in quality assurance and the educational activities of the agency's personnel, and supervise a quality assurance (QA) program by either direct involvement or appropriate designation and surveillance of the responsible designee(s). The appointment of a designee does not absolve the medical director of their responsibility of providing oversight.

(2)   Provide a written statement to the Department which includes:

(A)   an agreement to provide medical direction and establish treatment protocols and the agency specific scope of practice for all certified and licensed agency personnel;

(B)   the physician's primary practice address or home address if the physician does not have a practice and email address(es);

(C)   an OBNDD registrant number or appropriate state equivalent as appropriate;

(D)   current Oklahoma medical license;

(E)   demonstrate appropriate training and experience in the types of patients the service will be treating. Demonstrated training may include board training and appropriate certifications or supplemental training;

(F)   development of on-line or off-line protocols with medication formulary for patient care techniques. Protocols shall include medication to be used, treatment modalities for patient care procedures, and appropriate security procedures for controlled dangerous substances;

(3)   Attend or demonstrate participation in medical director training provided by the Department subject to the availability of funding. Verification of attendance or participation will be maintained at the agency.

(4)   Attend or demonstrate participation in one hour of continuing education specific to providing medical oversight to EMS providers and agencies each year, provided by the Department subject to the availability of funding.

[Source: Added at 33 Ok Reg 1529, eff 9-11-16]