Sec. 30.09.01.02. Definitions

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

B. Terms Defined.

(1) "Administrative law judge" means an individual appointed under State Government Article, §9-1605, Annotated Code of Maryland.

(2) “Advanced life support provider” means an individual licensed by the EMS Board as a paramedic or CRT.

(3) Advertising.

(a) "Advertising" means information communicated by any oral, electronic, written, or graphic means including handbills, newspapers, business cards, letterhead, other business stationery, television, billboards, radio, and telephone directories.

(b) "Advertising" includes ambulance markings.

(c) "Advertising" does not include novelty items such as key chains, pens, pencils, or mugs.

(4) "Air ambulance" means any aircraft designed and constructed or modified and equipped to be used, maintained, or operated as an ambulance.

(5) Ambulance.

(a) "Ambulance" or "commercial ambulance " means any motor vehicle or aircraft designed and constructed or modified and equipped to be used, maintained, or operated for the transportation of individuals who are sick, injured, wounded, or otherwise incapacitated.

(b) "Ambulance" or "commercial ambulance" does not include a motor vehicle or aircraft designed and constructed or modified and equipped with a hydraulic lift which is used, maintained, or operated exclusively for transporting, in wheelchairs, patients who do not require the use of equipment and trained personnel found in an ambulance.

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

(a) Has been cleared for market by the Food and Drug Administration;

(b) Is capable of recognizing the presence or absence of ventricular fibrillation or rapid ventricular tachycardia and determining, without intervention by an operator, whether defibrillation should be performed; and

(c) Upon determination that defibrillation should be performed, automatically charges and requests delivery of an electrical impulse to an individual's heart and requires user intervention to deliver the electrical impulse or automatically continues with the delivery of the electrical impulse.

(7) “Basic life support provider” means an individual certified by the EMS Board as an emergency medical responder or an emergency medical technician.

(8) "CAMTS" means Commission on Accreditation of Medical Transport Systems.

(9) "Cardiac rescue technician (CRT)" means an individual licensed by the EMS Board as a CRT.

(10) "CMAIS" means Commercial Maryland Ambulance Information System.

(11) "Commercial ambulance crew (crew)" means:

(a) For ground ambulances, at least two EMS providers, one of whom may also be the driver; or

(b) For air ambulances, at least two health care providers, at least one of whom shall be an EMS provider and one pilot as required by CAMTS.

(12) "Commercial ambulance license" means a license issued to a commercial ambulance service by MIEMSS under this subtitle, authorizing the use of a specific commercial ambulance.

(13) Commercial Ambulance Service.

(a) "Commercial ambulance service" means an individual, firm, partnership, limited liability company, corporation, association, or organization engaged in the business of transporting, by ambulance, individuals who are sick, injured, wounded, or otherwise incapacitated.

(b) "Commercial ambulance service" does not include transporting individuals in an ambulance owned by, operated by, or under the jurisdiction of a unit of State government, a political subdivision of the State, a volunteer fire company, a volunteer ambulance company, or a volunteer rescue squad or other jurisdictional EMS operational program recognized by the EMS Board.

(14) "Commercial ambulance service license" means a license issued to a commercial ambulance service by MIEMSS under this subtitle, authorizing the operation of a commercial ambulance service.

(15) "Confidential business information" means information that:

(a) Is used in the business of a commercial ambulance service;

(b) Gives the commercial ambulance service the opportunity to obtain advantage over a competitor;

(c) Is known only to the commercial ambulance service and employees or agents of the commercial ambulance service to whom the commercial ambulance service needs to confide the information; and

(d) Is kept secure from disclosure by the commercial ambulance service.

(16) "Consumer price index (CPI)" means the Consumer Price Index, U.S. City Average (seasonally unadjusted) For All Items/All Urban Consumers (CPI-U 1982/84 = 100), published in the "Monthly Labor Review" as well as other publications of the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the United States Department of Labor.

(17) "Emergency" means any sudden or serious symptoms in a patient which might indicate a condition which:

(a) Is threatening to the patient's physical or psychological well-being; and

(b) Requires immediate medical attention to prevent possible deterioration, disability, or death of the patient.

(18) “Emergency medical responder (EMR)” means an individual certified by the EMS Board as an emergency medical responder.

(19) "Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Board" means the Board established by Education Article, §13-505, Annotated Code of Maryland.

(20) "Emergency medical services (EMS) provider" means an individual licensed or certified by the EMS Board to provide emergency medical services.

(21) “Emergency medical technician (EMT)” means an individual certified by the EMS Board as an emergency medical technician .

(22) "EMRC" means the Emergency Medical Resources Center operated by MIEMSS to coordinate online medical direction.

(23) "Executive Director" means the Executive Director of the Maryland Institute for Emergency Medical Services Systems.

(24) "FAA" means the Federal Aviation Administration.

(25) "Ground ambulance" means a motor vehicle designed and constructed or equipped to be used, maintained, or operated as an ambulance.

(26) "Health care provider" means a person licensed, or otherwise certified in Maryland or authorized to practice in Maryland as a:

(a) Physician;

(b) Registered nurse;

(c) Nurse practitioner;

(d) Respiratory therapist; or

(e) Emergency medical services provider.

(27) "Helipad" means a designated area usually with a prepared surface used for take-off, landing, or parking helicopters.

(28) "Heliport" means an area of land or structure used for the landings and take-offs of helicopters and may include its buildings and facilities.

(29) "Jurisdictional EMS operational program (jurisdiction)" means an EMS operational program which is:

(a) Approved under COMAR 30.03.02.03; and

(b) Not licensed as a commercial ambulance service under Education Article, §13-515, Annotated Code of Maryland.

(30) "MIEMSS" means the Maryland Institute for Emergency Medical Services Systems established in Education Article, §13-503, Annotated Code of Maryland.

(31) "Neonatal referral center" means an out-of-State center operating under an agreement with MIEMSS to provide comprehensive neonatal services.

(32) "Neonatal Resuscitation Program" means the neonatal resuscitation course cosponsored by the American Heart Association and the American Academy of Pediatrics.

(33) "Neonate" or "neonatal patient" means a patient who:

(a) Is younger than 28 days; or

(b) Has been an inpatient since birth.

(34) "Neonatologist" means a pediatrician certified by the American Board of Pediatrics in neonatology.

(35) “Paramedic” means an individual licensed by the EMS Board as a paramedic.

(36) "Perinatal referral center" means a center in Maryland designated by MIEMSS, or an out-of-State center operating under an agreement with MIEMSS, to provide comprehensive obstetrical and neonatal services.

(37) "Physician" means an individual authorized to practice medicine in Maryland.

(38) "Registered nurse" means an individual authorized to practice registered nursing in Maryland.

(39) "Specialty care transport (SCT)" means the transport of a patient who either:

(a) Requires care or monitoring commensurate within the scope of practice of a physician or registered nurse and beyond the scope of a paramedic credentialed to provide specialty care transport; or

(b) Meets the following conditions:

(i) Requires ongoing care or monitoring which is within the scope of a paramedic who is credentialed to provide specialty care transport as defined in the Maryland Medical Protocols for EMS Providers; and

(ii) Does not currently need or is not anticipated to need intervention during transport that would be beyond the scope of a paramedic credentialed to provide specialty care transport under the Maryland Medical Protocols for EMS Providers.

(40) "State Office of Commercial Ambulance Licensing and Regulation (SOCALR)" means the MIEMSS department responsible for implementing and enforcing the provisions of this subtitle.

(41) "SYSCOM" means the Systems Communication Center operated by MIEMSS under Education Article, §13-509, Annotated Code of Maryland, and COMAR 30.07.01.