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<regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".02" citation="COMAR 30.09.14.02" title_num="30" subtitle_num="09" chapter_num="14" heading="General.">
  <paragraph num="A.">
    <text>To be licensed as a specialty care transport commercial ambulance service, a commercial ambulance service shall comply with the requirements of this chapter in addition to the other requirements of this subtitle.</text>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="B.">
    <text>An applicant for a specialty care transport commercial ambulance service license shall submit an application to SOCALR on the required form.</text>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="C.">
    <text>A licensed specialty care transport commercial ambulance service shall retain one or more medical directors as required by COMAR 30.03.03.</text>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="D.">
    <text>In addition to the qualifications in COMAR 30.03.03, the medical director for a specialty care service shall:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Have educational experience in the care of the types of critically ill patients the service is transporting;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Be board-certified in an appropriate specialty;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>Be actively practicing within a hospital clinical setting; and</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(4)">
      <text>Use the following consultants when appropriate:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Designated specialty physicians; or</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>The patient's receiving physician.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="E.">
    <text>The medical director for a licensed specialty care transport ambulance service shall participate in the development and implementation of any patient care guidelines required for interfacility transport of critically ill patients, including those guidelines to be followed by nursing personnel.</text>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="F.">
    <text>A licensed specialty care ambulance service shall immediately advise SOCALR of any change in medical directors.</text>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="G.">
    <text>A licensed specialty care ambulance service shall retain one or more registered nurses or nurse practitioners who:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Are licensed by the Maryland Board of Nursing;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Have knowledge of content which includes, but is not limited to:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>The transport arena (including transport team membership and role responsibility);</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Regulations governing COMAR 10.27.09;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>Documentation;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(d)">
        <text>Coordination with other transport team members;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(e)">
        <text>Knowledge and skill set appropriate to the client to be transported;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(f)">
        <text>Review of safety standards specific to the transport environment;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(g)">
        <text>Relevant components of the MIEMSS Base Station Course;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(h)">
        <text>Review of the MIEMSS Interhospital Transfer Resource Manual;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(i)">
        <text>Risk/benefit ratio assessment and triage decision-making process;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(j)">
        <text>Age-appropriate advanced life saving procedures, complications associated with procedures, and complications associated with delay in intervening with any of the procedures;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(k)">
        <text>Respiratory monitoring including differentiation between upper and lower airway obstruction, covert and overt signs of respiratory failure, and airway management;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(l)">
        <text>Neurological and spinal cord emergences and monitoring;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(m)">
        <text>Cardiovascular and hemodynamic monitoring including dysrhythmia recognition and pertinent laboratory data and interpretation;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(n)">
        <text>Blood and blood product administration;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(o)">
        <text>Knowledge of MIEMSS Maryland Medical Protocols for EMS Providers appropriate to the client population transported;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(p)">
        <text>Age-appropriate care algorithms and protocols;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(q)">
        <text>The responsibilities and accountability of the registered nurse to serve as team leader in absence of the physician;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(r)">
        <text>Insuring a safe environment and operational issues related to transport, including rapid egress from a trauma incident;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(s)">
        <text>Transport safety, which includes, but is not limited to:</text>
        <paragraph num="(i)">
          <text>Safety briefing related to the vehicle;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(ii)">
          <text>Protective clothing; and</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(iii)">
          <text>Mission profile;</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>Demonstrate knowledge of the EMS system by:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Completing a MIEMSS-approved base station course; or</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Being a currently licensed EMS provider;</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(4)">
      <text>Comply with the requirements of COMAR 10.27.09;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(5)">
      <text>Screen all requests for specialty care transport; and</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(6)">
      <text>Determine, in collaboration with the referring physician and program medical director, and in accordance with Regulation .04 of this chapter, the appropriate transport team configuration required for the patient.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="H.">
    <text>The licensed specialty care ambulance service shall credential any registered nurse retained by the service to ensure the registered nurse meets the requirements of §G of this regulation.</text>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="I.">
    <text>A licensed specialty care commercial ambulance service shall have a quality assurance program required by COMAR 30.03.04 which shall include:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>A review by registered nurses and physicians of patient care provided during specialty care transport;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>A review by the program medical director or designated specialty physician of each specialty care transport:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Requiring a change in the plan of care during transport;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Whose condition worsened during transport;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>In which there was a change of destination during transport; or</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(d)">
        <text>In which there was an unexpected outcome or event;</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>Written documentation of reviews of specialty care transports which shall be available to SOCALR upon request;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(4)">
      <text>Patient feedback on outcomes to the sending facility; and</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(5)">
      <text>A quality assurance process for call taking, call screening, and dispatch.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
</regulation>