4765-1-01. Definitions

For the purposes of Chapters 4765-1 to 4765-19 of the Administrative Code, except as otherwise provided, the following definitions shall apply:

(A) "Active duty" means full-time duty in the active military service of the United States or active duty pursuant to an executive order of the president of the United States, an act of the congress of the United States, or a proclamation of the governor. "Active duty" does not include active duty for training, initial active duty for training, or the period of time for which a person is absent from a position of employment for the purpose of an examination to determine the fitness of the person to perform any duty unless such period is contemporaneous with an active duty period.

(B) "Administrator" or "executive director" means the individual appointed by the director of public safety pursuant to section 4765.03 of the Revised Code to serve as the chief executive officer of the board of emergency medical services and as the executive director of the division of emergency medical services.

(C) "Affiliation agreement" means a written agreement between an EMS training program and any person, as defined in this rule, that sets forth the roles and responsibilities of the parties, is signed by the individuals with contracting authority, and that provides for any of the following:

(1) The use of specified equipment necessary in the training of EMS personnel;

(2) A site for the clinical experience or prehospital internship components of an EMS training program;

(3) The use of a facility not owned or leased by the accredited institution for classroom.

(D) "Annual report" means the written documentation submitted by an EMS accredited or EMS approved institution in a format approved by the board on a yearly basis to demonstrate continued compliance with certain requirements for a certificate of accreditation or certificate of approval.

(E) "Applicant" means any of the following:

(1) An individual that makes application for a certificate to practice issued under section 4765.30 of the Revised Code and Chapter 4765-8 of the Administrative Code;

(2) An individual that makes application for a certificate to teach issued under section 4765.23 of the Revised Code and Chapter 4765-18 of the Administrative Code;

(3) Any public agency, private school, educational institution, emergency medical service organization, vocational school, college, university, or hospital that makes application to hold a certificate of accreditation or certificate of approval issued under section 4765.17 of the Revised Code and Chapter 4765-7 of the Administrative Code.

(F) "Armed forces" means the armed forces of the United States, including the army, navy, air force, marine corps, coast guard, or any reserve components of those forces; the national guard of any state; the commissioned corps of the United States public health service; the merchant marine service during wartime; such other service as may be designated by congress; or the Ohio organized militia when engaged in full-time national guard duty for a period of more than thirty days.

(G) "Authorizing official" means any person who owns or maintains responsibility on behalf of an individual, corporation, trust, partnership, or an association for the facilities, equipment, instructors, managers and other employees of an EMS accredited institution or EMS approved institution.

(H) "Automated external defibrillation "or "AED" means the process of applying a specialized defibrillator to a patient of cardiac arrest, and allowing the defibrillator to interpret the cardiac rhythm and, if appropriate, deliver an electrical shock to the heart that will allow the heart to resume an effective electrical activity. Automated external defibrillation can include either fully-automatic or semi-automatic external defibrillation.

(I) "Board" means the emergency medical services board within the division of emergency medical services of the department of public safety created in section 4765.02 of the Revised Code.

(J) "Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs" or "CAAHEP" means a national agency that accredits postsecondary allied health educational programs upon the recommendation of its collaborating committees on accreditation.

(K) "Certificate of accreditation" means the certificate to operate one or more EMS training programs issued by the board pursuant to section 4765.17 of the Revised Code and Chapter 4765-7 of the Administrative Code.

(L) "Certificate of approval" means the certificate to operate an EMS continuing education program issued by the board pursuant to section 4765.17 of the Revised Code and Chapter 4765-7 of the Administrative Code.

(M) "Certificate of completion" means a document issued by the EMS accredited institution or the EMS approved institution in accordance with section 4765.24 of the Revised Code and Chapters 4765-7 and 4765-18 of the Administrative Code.

(N) "Certificate to practice" means the certificate to practice as an emergency medical responder, emergency medical technician, advanced emergency medical technician, or paramedic issued by the division pursuant to section 4765.30 of the Revised Code and Chapter 4765-8 of the Administrative Code as directed by the board.

(O) "Certificate to teach" means the certificate issued by the board pursuant to section 4765.23 of the Revised Code and Chapter 4765-18 of the Administrative Code allowing an individual to instruct through an EMS accredited institution or an EMS approved institution.

(P) "Clinical experience" means EMS training in a hospital or other clinical setting that allows an EMS student to develop and utilize EMS procedures and protocols in a supervised setting and leads to an understanding of hospital emergency departments as well as their relationship to other departments such as anesthesia, coronary care, critical care and obstetrics.

(Q) "Committee on Accreditation of Educational Programs for the Emergency Medical Services Professions" or "CoAEMSP" means the national organization that reviews and recommends the national accreditation of EMS education programs to the "Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs."

(R) "Contact hour" means equal to fifty to sixty minutes of continuing education.

(S) "Continuing education coordinating board for emergency medical services" or "CECBEMS" and "commission on accreditation for prehospital continuing education" or "CAPCE" mean the national accrediting body for EMS continuing education courses and providers.

(T) "Continuing education instructor" or "CE instructor" means a person who holds a certificate to teach an EMS continuing education program, issued in accordance with section 4765.23 of the Revised Code and rule 4765-18-15 of the Administrative Code.

(U) "Cooperating physician advisory board" means those physicians whom an emergency medical service organization has designated pursuant to section 4765.42 of the Revised Code, to perform the duties of medical director including establishing medical protocols that must be followed in the delivery of emergency medical services.

(V) "Distance learning" means an EMS training program or EMS continuing education program that is taught in real-time and is interactive between the student and the entity offering the course. Distance learning education takes place when an instructor and student(s) are separated by physical distance, and technology (i.e. voice, video, data, and print), often in concert with face-to-face communication, is used to bridge the instructional gap.

(W) "The division" means the division of emergency medical services within the department of public safety.

(X) "Drop back" is the process by which an EMS provider chooses to become certified to practice at a lower level than the one at which the EMS provider is currently certified.

(Y) "Educational improvement plan" means the documentation submitted by the EMS accredited institution or EMS approved institution in a format approved by the board, which demonstrates progress toward becoming compliant with the area(s) of deficiency as specified by the board.

(Z) "EMS" means emergency medical service as defined in section 4765.01 of the Revised Code.

(AA) "EMS accredited institution" or "accredited institution" means any public agency, private school, educational institution, emergency medical service organization, vocational school, college, university, or hospital within Ohio that holds a certificate of accreditation issued under section 4765.17 of the Revised Code and Chapter 4765-7 of the Administrative Code.

(BB) "EMS approved institution" or "approved institution" means any public agency, private school, educational institution, emergency medical service organization, vocational school, college, university, or hospital within Ohio that holds a certificate of approval issued under section 4765.17 of the Revised Code and Chapter 4765-7 of the Administrative Code.

(CC) "EMS assistant instructor" means a person who holds a certificate to teach an EMS training program or EMS continuing education program, issued in accordance with section 4765.23 of the Revised Code and rule 4765-18-18 of the Administrative Code. All course instruction and preparation must occur under the mentorship of a certified EMS instructor.

(DD) "EMS continuing education program" means courses related to EMS operation or patient care which, when successfully completed, result in certificates of completion from an approved institution or accredited institution and satisfy all of or a portion of the continuing education requirements in order to renew a certificate.

(EE) "EMS training program" means the collective group of initial EMS courses at each specified certification level which, when successfully completed, results in a certificate of completion from an accredited institution.

(FF) "EMS instructor" means a person who holds a certificate to teach an EMS training program or EMS continuing education program, issued in accordance with section 4765.23 of the Revised Code and rule 4765-18-05 of the Administrative Code.

(GG) "EMS instructor training program" means an EMS training program as outlined in Chapter 4765-18 of the Administrative Code, offered by an accredited institution which, when successfully completed, results in a certificate of completion and prepares students to be instructors in emergency medical responder, emergency medical technician, advanced emergency medical technician, and paramedic, or any other type of EMS instruction.

(HH) "EMS instructor trainer" means a person appointed by the accredited institution who has met the requirements as outlined in Chapter 4765-18 of the Administrative Code, and who teaches an EMS instructor training program through an accredited institution.

(II) "EMS provider" means a holder of a certificate to practice at any level issued pursuant to section 4765.30 of the Revised Code.

(JJ) "Extraglottic" or " extraglottic device" means an airway device residing above the vocal cords.

(KK) "Good reputation" or "good standing" means:

(1) If an individual, is in compliance with all applicable federal, state, and local regulations, is not the subject of an investigation or disciplinary action by any agency of the federal, state, or local government, or has not been denied a license or certificate, or had a license or certificate limited, suspended, or revoked by any public agency or licensing agency.

(2) If a corporation, business trust, estate, trust, partnership, association, government unit or other entity, is in compliance with all federal, state, or local regulations that are applicable to its operations, is not currently under investigation by any agency of the federal, state, or local government, or has not been denied any necessary licenses or certificates, or had such licenses or certificates limited, suspended, or revoked.

(LL) "Government unit" means the state and any county, municipal corporation, township, or other political subdivision of the state, any department, division, board, or other agency of the state or a political subdivision.

(MM) "Guest lecturer" means a person who does not hold a certificate to teach as an EMS instructor, assistant EMS instructor, continuing education instructor or special topic instructor and provides instruction or assistance in an EMS training program or EMS continuing education program under the auspices of a holder of a certificate to teach.

(NN) "Hospital" has the same meaning as in section 3727.01 of the Revised Code.

(OO) "Independent study" means a self-paced learning EMS continuing education program developed for individual use that, has been approved and is provided by an EMS accredited or EMS approved institution.

(PP) "Knowledge examination" means the written portion of the initial examination, as set forth in rule 4765-8-05 of the Administrative Code.

(QQ) "Letter of review" means an official document, issued by the "Committee on Accreditation of Educational Programs for the Emergency Medical Services Professions," that indicates a paramedic program is in the process of obtaining accreditation through the "Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs."

(RR) "Medical direction" means the written or verbal authorization of a physician or cooperating physician advisory board, designated pursuant to section 4765.42 of the Revised Code, that may be required prior to the performance of certain prehospital emergency medical services by an emergency medical responder, emergency medical technician, advanced emergency medical technician or paramedic.

(SS) "Moral turpitude" means the act of baseness, vileness, or the depravity in private and social duties that one owes to society, contrary to accepted and customary rule of right and duty between human beings.

(TT) "NHTSA" means the national highway traffic safety administration.

(UU) "Offsite location" means any location within Ohio where an EMS training program or EMS continuing education program is offered in addition to the location that was designated and authorized in the application for a certificate of accreditation or certificate of approval in accordance with Chapter 4765-7 of the Administrative Code.

(VV) "One-half contact hour" means equal to twenty-five to thirty minutes of continuing education.

(WW) "Online education" means EMS training programs or EMS continuing education programs delivered by correspondence, telecommunications, internet and web-based media, or combinations of media, and may include short periods of on-campus attendance.

(XX) "Person" includes any individual, corporation, business trust, estate, trust, partnership, association, government unit or other entity.

(YY) "Physician assistant" or "PA" means a person who possesses a current and valid certificate to practice under section 4730.08 of the Revised Code.

(ZZ) "Practical examination" means the practical portion of the initial examination, as set forth in rule 4765-8-05 of the Administrative Code.

(AAA) "Preceptor" means a person who supervises EMS students in accordance with section 4765.49 of the Revised Code and evaluates EMS students during clinical or prehospital internship required by the EMS training program and who is licensed or certified at a level that meets or exceeds the level of EMS certification for which the person supervises or evaluates.

(BBB) "Prehospital internship" means EMS training outside of a classroom or clinical facility that allows an EMS student to develop and utilize EMS procedures and protocols under supervision in a prehospital setting and affords the opportunity to gain an understanding of the nature of prehospital EMS practice and the relationship between it and hospital emergency departments.

(CCC) "Program coordinator" or "program director" means the authorizing official or that person designated by the authorizing official of an EMS accredited institution or EMS approved institution to oversee the administration and operation of an EMS training program that applies for, or holds, a certificate of accreditation or certificate of approval issued by the board under section 4765.17 of the Revised Code.

(DDD) "Program medical director" means a physician who is involved in the practice or supervision of emergency medicine in a hospital or prehospital setting and who advises the accredited institution or approved institution regarding the courses taught within an EMS training program or EMS continuing education program as set forth in section 4765.16 of the Revised Code and Chapter 4765-7 of the Administrative Code.

(EEE) "Provisional certificate of accreditation" means a conditional certificate of accreditation that is issued by the board to an institution applying for renewal that is in substantial compliance with rules 4765-7-02 and 4765-7-07 of the Administrative Code. An institution is issued a provisional certificate of accreditation when identified infractions are correctable and need attention before a certificate of accreditation can be issued.

(FFF) "Provisional certificate of approval" means a conditional certificate of approval that is issued by the board to an institution applying for renewal that is in substantial compliance with rule 4765-7-09 of the Administrative Code. An institution is issued a provisional certificate of approval when identified infractions are correctable and need attention before a certificate of approval can be issued.

(GGG) "Regional physician advisory board" or "RPAB" means the physician advisory board appointed by the board pursuant to section 4765.05 of the Revised Code to oversee the delivery of prehospital emergency medical services in each region of the state.

(HHH) "Reinstatement" is the process by which a holder of a certificate to practice, certificate of accreditation, certificate of approval or certificate to teach in Ohio may regain a certificate that has expired, was voluntarily surrendered or has been revoked.

(III) "Self-study" means a document submitted by an institution to the "Committee on Accreditation of Educational Programs for the Emergency Medical Services Professions" as part of the process to obtain an accreditation issued by the "Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs."

(JJJ) "Special patient populations" mean patient populations that require special consideration in terms of medical assessment, medical response, and medical care. Special patient populations include, but are not limited to, individuals with obstetric, neonatal, pediatric, geriatric, and special needs challenges.

(KKK) "State medical director" means the physician appointed by the board to serve as its medical director pursuant to section 4765.03 of the Revised Code.

(LLL) "Techniques examination" or "instructional methods examination" means the examination developed by the division and approved by the board that covers teaching systems.

(MMM) "Veteran" means any person who has completed service in the armed forces, including the national guard of any state, or a reserve component of the armed forces, who has been discharged under honorable conditions from the armed forces or who has been transferred to the reserve with evidence of satisfactory service.

Effective: 4/1/2019
Five Year Review (FYR) Dates: 1/11/2019 and 12/31/2023
Promulgated Under: 119.03
Statutory Authority: 4765.11
Rule Amplifies: 4765.
Prior Effective Dates: 10/01/1995, 02/22/1999, 06/29/2001, 01/13/2002, 10/02/2003, 11/29/2007, 02/01/2009, 01/01/2011, 04/01/2011, 02/06/2012, 01/01/2013