Sec. 30.04.01.01. Definitions

A. In this subtitle, the following terms have the meanings indicated.

B. Terms Defined.

(1) "Advanced life support (ALS)" means the level of care which may be rendered by an individual licensed under Education Article, §13-516, Annotated Code of Maryland, as an:

(a) Emergency medical technician-paramedic; or

(b) Cardiac rescue technician licensed.

(2) "Automated external defibrillator (AED)" means a medical heart monitor and defibrillator device that:

(a) Is cleared for market by the federal Food and Drug Administration;

(b) Recognizes the presence or absence of ventricular fibrillation or rapid ventricular tachycardia;

(c) Determines, without intervention by the operator, whether defibrillation should be performed;

(d) On determining that defibrillation should be performed, automatically charges; and

(e) Either:

(i) Requires operator intervention to deliver the electrical impulse; or

(ii) Automatically continues with delivery of electrical impulse.

(3) "Advanced life support (ALS) education program" means an individual, agency, corporation, association, or other entity that prepares individuals for Maryland emergency medical services (EMS) licensure at the ALS level.

(4) “Basic life support (BLS)” means the level of care which may be rendered by an individual certified under Education Article, §13-516, Annotated Code of Maryland, as:

(a) An emergency medical technician (EMT); or

(b) An emergency medical responder.

(5) "Basic life support (BLS) education program" means an individual, agency, corporation, association, or other entity that prepares individuals for Maryland EMS certification at the BLS level.

(6) "BLS instructor" means an individual who meets the requirements of COMAR 30.04.03.09A or .11.

(7) “CAPCE” means the Commission on Accreditation for Pre-Hospital Continuing Education, which is a national organization designed to approve continuing education.

(8) "CoAEMSP" means the Committee on Accreditation of Educational Programs for the Emergency Medical Services Professions which is a national committee that accredits programs instructing EMS curricula.

(9) "Commercial ambulance service" means a commercial ambulance service required to be licensed under Education Article, §13-515, Annotated Code of Maryland.

(10) "Continuing education" means education used for renewal of EMS licensure or certification.

(11) "Continuing education program" means a program offering continuing education courses for EMS providers in conjunction with and through an EMS operational program.

(12) "Curriculum" means the required educational content of an EMS course approved by the EMS Board for licensure or certification as an EMS provider under Education Article, §13-516(a), Annotated Code of Maryland.

(13) "Distance education" means a method of acquiring knowledge and skills through mediated information and instruction, encompassing all technologies and other forms of learning at a distance.

(14) "Emergency medical dispatcher (EMD)" means an individual licensed by the EMS Board as an emergency medical dispatcher.

(15) "EMD education program" means an individual, agency, corporation, association, or other entity that prepares individuals for licensure as a Maryland EMD.

(16) "EMD instructor" means an individual who is currently approved by MIEMSS to teach an approved EMD education program and approved continuing education.

(17) “Emergency medical responder instructor” means an individual who is currently approved by MIEMSS to teach FR courses and approved continuing education.

(18) “Emergency medical services (EMS) operational program” means:

(a) A jurisdictional EMS operational program; or

(b) An institution, agency, corporation, or other entity that is licensed by MIEMSS as a commercial service.

(19) “Emergency medical technician instructor” means an individual who can teach emergency medical technician or EMR courses and meets the requirements of COMAR 30.04.03.09A.

(20) "FR instructor" means an individual who is currently approved by MIEMSS to teach FR courses and approved continuing education.

(21) "JCAHO" means the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations.

(22) "MDH" means the Maryland Department of Health.

(23) "MFRI" means the Maryland Fire and Rescue Institute, University of Maryland.

(24) "MICRB" means the Maryland Instructor Certification Review Board as defined in COMAR 13B.03.01.02B(6).

(25) "Nationally recognized EMD education program" means an individual, agency, corporation, association, or other entity which conducts EMD education courses and has:

(a) Nationally recognized expertise and resources to:

(i) Set minimum standards for EMD instruction; and

(ii) Provide adequate quality assurance of its instruction and instructors; and

(b) A valid and reliable instrument for the evaluation of EMD students.

(26) "NHTSA" means the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration.

(27) "Proprietary education program" means an individual, agency, corporation, association, or other entity which conducts EMS education and has:

(a) The expertise and resources to:

(i) Set minimum standards for the instruction of EMS content; and

(ii) Provide adequate quality assurance of its instruction and instructors; and

(b) A valid and reliable instrument for the evaluation of participants.

(28) "Person" includes an individual, agency, corporation, association, or other entity.

(29) "Refresher course" means a continuing education course which provides continuing education requirements required for renewal of an EMS license or certificate under COMAR 30.02.07.

(30) "Skills course" means a continuing education course which fulfills the skills requirements required for renewal of an EMS license or certificate under COMAR 30.02.07.

(31) "Specialty care transport" has the meaning stated in COMAR 30.09.01.02B(1).