Scope of Practice Statements - EMSA

1 Scope of Practice Statements Emergency Medical Services Authority California Health and Human Services Agency EMSA # 300 November 2017 HOWARD BACKER, MD, MPH, FACEPDIRECTOR DANIEL R. SMILEY CHIEF DEPUTY DIRECTOR SEAN TRASK DIVISION CHIEF EMSA # 300 Released November 2017 5101520253035 EMSA #300 Page 1 Table of Contents Introduction ..4 The EMS Local EMS California EMS Personnel Reading the Scope of Practice Pages .. Airway and CPAP & BiPAP Ventilation .. Manually Triggered Perilaryngeal Airway Visualize Airway & Forceps Removal of Airway Automatic Transport Bag Valve Mask Endotracheal Intubation Adult ..11 Facilitated Intubation.

2 12 Humidifier ..13 Supraglottic Nasopharyngeal Airway Adjunct NPA ..16 Nasotracheal Intubation ..17 Oropharyngeal Airway Adjunct OPA ..18 Pediatric Oral Endotracheal Positive Pressure Ventilation Rapid Sequence Supplemental Oxygen Indirect Laryngoscopy Using Video Devices ..24 Cardiac and Medical ..26 Synchronized Electrical Cardioversion .. Mechanical CPR Automated External Defibrillator Blood Chemistry Blood Glucose Monitoring ..29 Manual Manual Electrocardiography Ventricular Assist / Mechanical Circulatory support Magnets for Internal Implantable Defibrillators ..34 3637383940414243444546474849505152535455 56575859606162636465666768697071 EMSA #300 Page 2 Nasogastric/Orogastric Intubation .. Impedance Threshold TB Transcutaneous Vagal Maneuvers.

3 Patient Assessment .. Auto Blood Pressure .. CO2 Determination by Manual Blood Pressure .. Pulse Venous Blood Sampling .. Pharmacological Activated Charcoal Administration of Administration of Oral Assisting Patient with Prescribed Medication .. Beta-agonists Drug Administration Other Than IV .. Emergency Immunizations .. Epinephrine Epinephrine Auto-injectors .. Glucagon Administration .. Intraosseous Infusion (IO) .. IV Drug IV Fluid Therapy Naloxone Nerve Agent Peripheral IV Reactive Skin Decontamination Lotion (RSDL).. Trauma .. Hemostatic Agents .. Joint Needle Cricothyroidotomy .. Needle Thoracostomy .. Pneumatic Anti-Shock Garment PASG .. Surgical Cricothyrotomy .. EMSA #300 Page 3 Tourniquet Appendix A: LEMSA LOCAL EMS AGENCY REGIONAL LOCAL EMS AGENCY EMSA #300 Page 4 Introduction This document contains various basic and advanced life support Scope of Practice position Statements .

4 The intent is to provide guidance to local EMS agencies, EMS personnel, and the public as to the level of EMS provider who may perform each item, the relevant legal authorities, and special information related to each Scope of Practice item. The EMS AuthorityThe EMS Authority is the state department that has been granted the authority to promulgate regulations for the statewide EMS system. These regulations provide for the approval of EMS services, training programs, certification/licensure processes and processes for the enforcement of the regulations. In addition to writing regulations, the EMS Authority also licenses and oversees paramedics throughout the state, approves local EMS plans, and provides EMS coordination during disasters. Local EMS Agencies Actual day-to-day EMS system operations are the responsibili ty of the local EMS agencies. EMS systems are administered by either single county or multi-county EMS agencies, which follow regulations and standards established by the State EMS Authority.

5 Local EMS agencies are responsible for certifying EMTs and AEMTs (however, EMTs employed by public safety agencies, such as fire departments and law enforcement agencies, may be certified by their own departments if those agencies maintain an approved EMT training program). California EMS Personnel Levels There are five levels of emergency medical services (EMS) personnel that are recognized in the State of California. EMS personnel are specially trained professionals, who often work as a part of the local EMS system, and who render immediate medical care in the prehospital setting to seriously ill or injured individuals. Of the five levels of EMS personnel identified in regulations four require specific certification/licenses or accreditation in order to Practice their Scope of work. The EMS Authority develops and implements regulations governing the medical training and Scope of Practice standards for the following EMS personnel: Public Safety Personnel (Firefighters, Peace Officers, and Lifeguards) have minimum training standards that include first aid, CPR/AED and response to tactical casualty care situations.

6 An Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) is trained and certified in basic life support practices and is certified by the LEMSAs or an approved public safety agency (Certifying Entity). California law requires all ambulance attendants to be trained and certified to the EMT level and many fire agencies require firefighters to be EMT certified. EMTs are often used as the first dispatched medical responder in an emergency medical system. There are more than 60,000 EMTs certified in California. An advanced EMT (AEMT) is trained and certified in limited advanced life support (LALS) practices and is certified by the LEMSAs. AEMTs are used primarily in rural areas, where they may be the only EMS personnel. California currently has approximately 100 certified AEMTs. EMSA #300 Page 5 A paramedic is trained in advanced life support and is licensed by the State. A paramedic also must be locally accredited and affiliated with an approved paramedic services provider in order to Practice in any California county.

7 Accreditation includes orientation to local protocols. There are approximately 22,000 licensed paramedics in California. A critical care paramedic (CCPs) is the final level of EMS provider recognized by the State of California and works under local EMS agency accreditation. A CCP is a specially trained paramedic who has been approved and accredited by a LEMSA to Practice an expanded Scope of Practice for critical care transport that do not require a registered nurse to accompany the patient. The extended Scope allows the CCP to provide necessary care during those transports. This level is also often used by air ambulances that have flight paramedics. Reading the Scope of Practice Pages Each Scope of Practice position statement has a key at the top to identify which level of EMS provider may utilize this Scope item. The five levels of EMS are color coded indicating if that particular level is approved to utilize the Scope with basic training skill, as an optional Scope of Practice skill or not at all.

8 Red: Not approved for this level Yellow: Approved as an optional Scope item Green: Approved as basic Scope item Public Safety EMT AEMT Paramedic EMSA #300 Page 6 Airway and Breathing Scope of Practice Statements EMSA #300 Page 7 AIRWAY SUCTIONING Public Safety EMT AEMT Paramedic Item: Either a manual or mechanical device used to clear upper airway of obstructions. Classification: Basic life support procedure. Specified in existing regulations. Use and Level: Not authoriz ed for Public Safety First Aid trained providers. Authoriz ed for all levels of EMT. Authority: Section 100063 (a)(6)(C) of the EMT Regulations, Chapter 2, Division 9, Title 22, California Code of Regulations. Section 100106 (a) of the AEMT Regulations. Chapter 3, Division 9, Title 22, California Code of Regulations.

9 Section 100106 (b)(2) allows for trachea-bronchial suctioning of an intubation patient by an AEMT Section 100146 (a) of the Paramedic Regulations, Chapter 4, Division 9, Title 22, California Code of Regulations. Subsection (a) states that an EMT-paramedic may perform any activity identified in the Scope of Practice for an EMT. Training: As specified in EMT and Paramedic Regulations for level of provider. Equipment: Properly functioning suctioning device. Selection of varying catheter sizes available. Alternate form of suctioning available. Medical Direction: Used in accordance with a protocol written and approved by the local EMS agency medical director (HS ). Considerat ions and Recommendations: Suctioning may be considered a high risk procedure under Cal/OSHA ATD 5199. Reviewed November 2017 EMSA #300 Page 8 AUTOMATIC TRANSPORT VENTILATOR Public Safety EMT AEMT Paramedic Item: Provides positive pressure ventilation automatically.

10 Classification: advanced life support procedure. Specified in existing regulations. Use and Level: Not authoriz ed for EMT or AEMT. Authoriz ed EMT-P only. Authority: Section 100146(c)(1)(D) of the Paramedic Regulations (Chapter 4, Division 9, Title 2 2, California Code of Regulations) states that an EMT-paramedic may perform pulmonary ventilation by oral endotracheal intubation. Training: As specified in Paramedic Regulations for level of provider. Equipment: Properly functioning ventilation device. Endotracheal intubation of patient required. Medical Direction: Used in accordance with a protocol written and approved by the local EMS agency medical director (HS ). Considerat ions and Recommendations: Most useful in specialized transport situations. There is little utility in routine scene transports with short transport times. Reviewed November 2017 EMSA #300 Page 9 BAG VALVE MASK BVM Public Safety EMT AEMT Paramedic Item: Device used to manually provide positive pressure ventilation.