Section 515.100  Definitions

 

Act – the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Systems Act [210 ILCS 50].

 

Acute Stroke-Ready Hospital or ASRH – a hospital that has been designated by the Department as meeting the criteria for providing emergent stroke care.  Designation may be provided after a hospital has been certified or through application and designation as an Acute Stroke-Ready Hospital.  (Section 3.116 of the Act)

 

Advanced Emergency Medical Technician or A-EMT − a person who has successfully completed a course in basic and limited advanced emergency medical care as approved by the Department, is currently licensed by the Department in accordance with standards prescribed by the Act and this Part, and practices within an Intermediate or Advanced Life Support EMS System. (Section 3.50(b-5) of the Act)

 

Advanced Life Support Services or ALS Services – an advanced level of pre-hospital and inter-hospital emergency care and non-emergency medical services that includes basic life support care, cardiac monitoring, cardiac defibrillation, electrocardiography, intravenous therapy, administration of medications, drugs and solutions, use of adjunctive medical devices, trauma care, and other authorized techniques and procedures as outlined in the National EMS Education Standards relating to Advanced Life Support and any modifications to that curriculum or those standards specified in this Part.  (Section 3.10(a) of the Act)

 

Advanced Practice Registered Nurse or APRN – a person currently licensed as an advanced practice registered nurse under the Illinois Nurse Practice Act by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation.

 

Aeromedical Crew Member or Watercraft Crew Member or Off-road Specialized Emergency Medical Services Vehicle (SEMSV) Crew Member – an individual, other than an EMS pilot, who has been approved by an SEMSV Medical Director for specific medical duties in a helicopter or fixed-wing aircraft, on a watercraft, or on an off-road SEMSV used in a Department-certified SEMSV Program.

 

Alternate EMS Medical Director or Alternate EMS MD – the physician who is designated by the Resource Hospital to direct the ALS/Advanced/ILS/BLS operations in the absence of the EMS Medical Director.

 

Alternate Response Vehicle – ambulance assist vehicles and non-transport vehicles as defined in Section 515.825 and Section 515.827.

 

Ambulance – any publicly or privately owned on-road vehicle that is specifically designed, constructed or modified and equipped for, and is intended to be used for, and is maintained or operated for, the emergency transportation of persons who are sick, injured, wounded or otherwise incapacitated or helpless, or the non-emergency medical transportation of persons who require the presence of medical personnel to monitor the individual's condition or medical apparatus being used on such individuals. (Section 3.85 of the Act)

 

Ambulance Assistance Vehicle Provider – a provider of ambulance assistance vehicles that is licensed under the Act and serves a population within the State. (Section 3.88(a) of the Act)

 

Ambulance Service Provider and Vehicle Service Provider Upgrades – Rural Population – a practice that allows an ambulance, alternate response vehicle, specialized emergency medical services vehicle or vehicle service provider that serves a population of 7,500 or fewer to upgrade the level of service of the provider vehicle using pre-approved System personnel and equipment.  (See 210 ILCS 50/3.87)

 

Ambulance Service Provider – any individual, group of individuals, corporation, partnership, association, trust, joint venture, unit of local government or other public or private ownership entity that owns and operates a business or service using one or more ambulances or EMS vehicles for the transportation of emergency patients.

 

Applicant – an individual or entity applying for a Department-issued license or certification.

 

Associate Hospital – a hospital participating in an approved EMS System in accordance with the EMS System Program Plan, fulfilling the same clinical and communications requirements as the Resource Hospital. This hospital has neither the primary responsibility for conducting education programs nor the responsibility for the overall operation of the EMS System program.  The Associate Hospital must have a basic or comprehensive emergency department with 24-hour physician coverage.  It shall have a functioning Intensive Care Unit or a Cardiac Care Unit.

 

Associate Hospital EMS Coordinator – the paramedic or registered professional nurse at the Associate Hospital who shall be responsible for duties in relation to the EMS System, in accordance with the Department-approved EMS System Program Plan.

 

Associate Hospital EMS Medical Director – the physician at the Associate Hospital who shall be responsible for the day-to-day operations of the Associate Hospital in relation to the EMS System, in accordance with the Department-approved EMS System Program Plan.

 

Basic Emergency Department – a classification of a hospital emergency department where at least one physician is available in the emergency department at all times; physician specialists are available in minutes; and ancillary services, including laboratory, x-ray and pharmacy, are staffed or are "on-call" at all times in accordance with Section 250.710 of the Hospital Licensing Requirements.

 

Basic Life Support or BLS Services – a basic level of pre-hospital and inter-hospital emergency care and non-emergency medical services that includes medical monitoring, clinical observation, airway management, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), control of shock and bleeding and splinting of fractures, as outlined in the National EMS Education Standards relating to Basic Life Support and any modifications to that curriculum or standards specified in this Part.  (Section 3.10(c) of the Act)

 

Board Eligible in Emergency Medicine – completion of a residency in Emergency Medicine in a program approved by the Residency Review Committee for Emergency Medicine or the Council on Postdoctoral Training (COPT) for the American Osteopathic Association (AOA).

 

Continuing Education or CE – ongoing emergency medical education after licensure that is designated to maintain, update or upgrade medical knowledge and skills.

 

Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist or CRNA – a licensed registered professional nurse who has had additional education beyond the registered professional nurse requirements at a school/program accredited by the National Council on Accreditation; who has passed the certifying exam given by the National Council on Certification; and who, by participating in 40 hours of continuing education every two years, has been recertified by the National Council on Recertification.

 

Child Abuse and Neglect – see the definitions of "abused child" and "neglected child" in Section 3 of the Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act.

 

Child Life Specialist – a person whose primary role is to minimize the adverse effects of children's experiences by facilitating coping and the psychosocial adjustment of children and their families through the continuum of care.

 

Clinical Nurse Specialist – a person who is currently licensed as an APRN and who has met all qualifications for a clinical nurse specialist.  For out-of-state facilities that have Illinois recognition under the EMS, trauma, or pediatric program, the clinical nurse specialist shall have an unencumbered license in the state in which he or she practices.

 

Clinical Observation – ongoing observation of a patient's condition by a licensed health care professional utilizing a medical skill set while continuing assessment and care. (Section 3.5 of the Act)

 

Comprehensive Emergency Department – a classification of a hospital emergency department where at least one licensed physician is available in the emergency department at all times; physician specialists shall be available in minutes; ancillary services, including laboratory and x-ray, are staffed at all times; and the pharmacy is staffed or "on-call" at all times in accordance with Section 250.710 of the Hospital Licensing Requirements.

 

Comprehensive Stroke Center or CSC – a hospital that has been certified and has been designated as a Comprehensive Stroke Center under Subpart K.  (Section 3.116 of the Act)

 

CPR for Healthcare Providers – a course in cardiopulmonary resuscitation that meets or exceeds the American Heart Association course "BLS for Healthcare Providers".

 

Critical Care Transport or CCT or Specialty Care Transport or SCT – pre-hospital or inter-hospital transportation of a critically injured or ill patient by a vehicle service provider, including the provision of medically necessary supplies and services, at a level of service beyond the scope of the paramedic. When medically indicated for a patient, as determined by a physician licensed to practice medicine in all of its branches, an APRN, or a physician assistant, in compliance with Section 3.155(b) and (c) of the Act. (Section 3.10(f-5)

 

Department or IDPH – the Illinois Department of Public Health.  (Section 3.5 of the Act)

 

Department's Division of Emergency Medical Services (EMS) website – the portion of the Department's website reserved for the Department's Division of EMS available at: https://dph.illinois.gov/topics-services/emergency-preparedness-response/ems.html

 

Director – the Director of the Illinois Department of Public Health or the Director's designee.  (Section 3.5 of the Act)

 

Door-to-_____ − the time from patient arrival at the health care facility until the specified result, procedure or intervention occurs.

 

Dysrhythmia – a variation from the normal electrical rate and sequences of cardiac activity, also including abnormalities of impulse formation and conduction.

 

Electrocardiogram or EKG – a single lead graphic recording of the electrical activity of the heart by a series of deflections that represent certain components of the cardiac cycle.

 

Emergency – a medical condition of recent onset and severity that would lead a prudent layperson, possessing an average knowledge of medicine and health, to believe that urgent or unscheduled medical care is required. (Section 3.5 of the Act)

 

Emergency Communications Registered Nurse or ECRN – a registered professional nurse licensed under the Nurse Practice Act who has successfully completed supplemental education in accordance with this Part and who is approved by an EMS Medical Director to monitor telecommunications from and give voice orders to EMS System personnel, under the authority of the EMS Medical Director and in accordance with System protocols.  (Section 3.80 of the Act) For out-of-state facilities that have Illinois recognition under the EMS, trauma, or pediatric program, the professional shall have an unencumbered license in the state in which the professional practices. 

 

Emergency Department Approved for Pediatrics or EDAP – a hospital participating in an approved EMS System and designated by the Department pursuant to Section 515.4000 of this Part as being capable of providing optimal emergency department care to pediatric patients 24 hours per day.

 

Emergency Medical Dispatch Priority Reference System or EMDPRS – an EMS System's organized approach to the receipt, management and disposition of a request for emergency medical services.

 

Emergency Medical Dispatcher or EMD – a person who has successfully completed a training course in emergency medical dispatching in accordance with this Part, who accepts calls from the public for emergency medical services and dispatches designated emergency medical services personnel and vehicles.  (Section 3.70 of the Act)

 

Emergency Medical Responder or EMR or First Responder – a person who has successfully completed a course of instruction for the Emergency Medical Responder as approved by the Department, who provides Emergency Medical Responder services prior to the arrival of an ambulance or specialized emergency medical services vehicle, in accordance with the level of care established in the National EMS Educational Standards for Emergency Medical Responders as modified by the Department.

 

Emergency Medical Responder Services – a preliminary level of pre-hospital emergency care that includes cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), monitoring vital signs and control of bleeding, as outlined in the Emergency Medical Responder (EMR) curriculum of the National EMS Education standards and any modifications to that curriculum (standards) specified in this Part.  (Section 3.10(d) of the Act)

 

Emergency Medical Services Personnel or EMS Personnel – persons licensed as an Emergency Medical Responder (EMR) (First Responder), Emergency Medical Dispatcher (EMD), Emergency Medical Technician (EMT), Emergency Medical Technician-Intermediate (EMT-I), Advanced Emergency Medical Technician (A-EMT), Paramedic, Emergency Communications Registered Nurse (ECRN), or Pre-Hospital Registered Nurse (PHRN). (Section 3.5 or the Act)

 

Emergency Medical Services System or EMS System or System – an organization of hospitals, vehicle service providers and personnel approved by the Department in a specific geographic area, which coordinates and provides pre-hospital and inter-hospital emergency care and non-emergency medical transports at a BLS, ILS and/or ALS level pursuant to a System Program Plan submitted to and approved by the Department, and pursuant to the EMS Region Plan adopted for the EMS Region in which the System is located.  (Section 3.20(a) of the Act)

 

Emergency Medical Services System Survey – a questionnaire that provides data to the Department for the purpose of compiling annual reports.

 

Emergency Medical Technician or EMT or EMT-B – a person who has successfully completed a course in basic life support as approved by the Department, is currently licensed by the Department in accordance with standards prescribed by the Act and this Part and practices within an EMS System.  (Section 3.50(a) of the Act)

 

Emergency Medical Technician-Coal Miner – for purposes of the Coal Mine Medical Emergencies Act, an EMT, A-EMT, EMT-I or Paramedic who has received additional education emphasizing extrication from a coal mine.

 

Emergency Medical Technician-Intermediate or EMT-I – a person who has successfully completed a course in intermediate life support as approved by the Department, is currently licensed by the Department in accordance with the standards prescribed in this Part and practices within an Intermediate or Advanced Life Support EMS System.  (Section 3.50(b) of the Act)

 

Emergent Stroke Care – emergency medical care that includes diagnosis and emergency medical treatment of suspected or known acute stroke patients. (Section 3.116 of the Act)

 

Emergent Stroke Ready Hospital – a hospital that has been designated by the Department as meeting the criteria for providing emergent stroke care as set forth in the Act and Section 515.5060. (Section 3.116 of the Act)

 

EMS – emergency medical services.

 

EMS Administrative Director – the administrator, appointed by the Resource Hospital in consultation with the EMS Medical Director, in accordance with this Part, responsible for the administration of the EMS System.  (Section 3.35 of the Act)

 

EMSC – Emergency Medical Services for Children.

 

EMS Lead Instructor or LI – a person who has successfully completed a course of education as approved by the Department in this Part, and who is currently approved by the Department to coordinate or teach education, training and continuing education courses, in accordance with this Part.  (Section 3.65(a) of the Act)

 

EMS Medical Director or EMS MD – the physician, appointed by the Resource Hospital, who has the responsibility and authority for total management of the EMS System.

 

EMS Regional Plan – a plan established by the EMS Medical Director's Committee in accordance with Section 3.30 of the Act.

 

EMS System Coordinator – an individual responsible to the EMS Medical Director and EMS Administrative Director for coordination of the educational and functional aspects of the System program.

 

EMS System Program Plan – the document prepared by the Resource Hospital and approved by the Department that describes the EMS System program and directs the program's operation.

 

Fixed-Wing Aircraft – an engine-driven aircraft that is heavier than air, and is supported in-flight by the dynamic reaction of the air against its wings.

 

Full-Time – on duty a minimum of 36 hours a week.

 

Half-Duplex Communications – a radio or device that transmits and receives signals in only one direction at a time.

 

Health Care Facility – a hospital, nursing home, physician's office or other fixed location at which medical and health care services are performed. It does not include "pre-hospital emergency care settings" that utilize EMS Personnel to render pre-hospital emergency care prior to the arrival of a transport vehicle, as defined in the Act and this Part.  (Section 3.5 of the Act)

 

Helicopter or Rotorcraft – an aircraft that is capable of vertical take offs and landings, including maintaining a hover.

 

Helicopter Shopping − the practice of calling various operators until a helicopter emergency medical services (HEMS) operator agrees to take a flight assignment, without sharing with subsequent operators that the previously called operators declined the flight, or the reasons why the flight was declined.

 

Hospital – has the meaning ascribed to that term in Section 3 of the Hospital Licensing Act.  (Section 3.5 of the Act)

 

Hospitalist – a physician who primarily provides unit-based/in-hospital services.

 

In-Field Service Level Upgrade – a practice that allows the delivery of advanced care from a lower level service provider by a licensed higher level of care ambulance, alternate response vehicle, or specialized emergency medical services vehicle according to a pre-approved written plan approved by the local EMS Medical Director.

 

Instrument Flight Rules or IFR – the operation of an aircraft in weather minimums below the minimums for flight under visual flight rules (VFR).  (See General Operating and Flight Rules, 14 CFR 91.115 through 91.129.)

 

Instrument Meteorological Conditions or IMC – meteorological conditions expressed in terms of visibility, distance from clouds and ceiling, which require Instrument Flight Rules.

 

Intermediate Life Support Services or ILS Services – an intermediate level of pre-hospital and inter-hospital emergency care and non-emergency medical services that includes basic life support care plus intravenous cannulation and fluid therapy, invasive airway management, trauma care, and other authorized techniques and procedures as outlined in the Intermediate Life Support national curriculum of the United States Department of Transportation and any modifications to that curriculum specified in this Part.  (Section 3.10 of the Act)

 

Level I Trauma Center – a hospital participating in an approved EMS System and designated by the Department pursuant to Section 515.2030 to provide optimal care to trauma patients and to provide all essential services in-house, 24 hours per day.

 

Level II Trauma Center – a hospital participating in an approved EMS System and designated by the Department pursuant to Section 515.2040 to provide optimal care to trauma patients, to provide some essential services available in-house 24 hours per day, and to provide other essential services readily available 24 hours a day.

 

Licensee – an individual or entity to which the Department has issued a license.

 

Limited Operation Vehicle – a vehicle which is licensed by the Department to provide basic, intermediate or advanced life support emergency or non-emergency medical services that are exclusively limited to specific events or locales.  (Section 3.85 of the Act)

 

Local System Review Board – a group established by the Resource Hospital to hear appeals from EMS Personnel or other providers who have been suspended or have received notification of suspension from the EMS Medical Director.

 

Medical Monitoring – the performance of medical tests and physical exams to evaluate an individual's on-going exposure to a factor that could negatively impact that person's health. This includes close surveillance or supervision of patient's liable to suffer deterioration in physical or mental health and checks of various parameters such as pulse rate, temperature, respiration rate, the condition of the pupils, the level of consciousness and awareness, the degree of appreciation of pain, and blood gas concentrations such as oxygen and carbon dioxide. (Section 3.5 of the Act)

 

Mobile Radio – a two-way radio installed in an EMS vehicle, which may not be readily removed.

 

Morbidity – a negative outcome that is the result of the original medical or trauma condition or treatment rendered or omitted.

 

911 – an emergency answer and response system in which the caller need only dial 9-1-1 on a telephone or mobile device to obtain emergency services, including police, fire, medical ambulance and rescue.

 

Non-emergency Medical Care – medical care, clinical observation, or medical monitoring rendered to patients whose conditions do not meet the Act's definition of emergency, before or during transportation of such patients to or from health care facilities visited for the purpose of obtaining medical or health care services that are not emergency in nature, using a vehicle regulated by the Act and this Part.  (Section 3.10(g) of the Act)

 

Nurse Practitioner – a person who is currently licensed as an APRN and who has met all qualifications for a nurse practitioner.  For out-of-state facilities that have Illinois recognition under the EMS, trauma, or pediatric program, the nurse practitioner shall have an unencumbered license in the state in which he or she practices.

 

Off-Road Specialized Emergency Medical Services Vehicle or Off-Road SEMSV or Off-Road SEMS Vehicle – a motorized cart, golf cart, all-terrain vehicle (ATV), or amphibious vehicle that is not intended for use on public roads.

 

Paramedic or EMT-P – a person who has successfully completed a course in advanced life support care as approved by the Department, is currently licensed by the Department in accordance with standards prescribed by the Act and this Part and practices within an Advanced Life Support EMS System.  (Section 3.50 of the Act)

 

Participating Hospital – a hospital participating in an approved EMS System in accordance with the EMS System Program Plan, which is not a Resource Hospital or an Associate Hospital.

 

Pediatric Critical Care Center or PCCC – a hospital participating in an approved EMS System and designated by the Department as being capable of providing optimal critical and specialty care services to pediatric patients, and of providing all essential services either in-house or readily available 24 hours per day.

 

Pediatric Patient – patient from birth through 15 years of age.

 

Physician – any person licensed to practice medicine in all of its branches under the Illinois Medical Practice Act of 1987.  For out-of-state facilities that have Illinois recognition under the EMS, trauma, or pediatric program, the physician shall have an unencumbered license in the state in which the physician practices.

 

Physician Assistant or PA – a person who is licensed under the Physician Assistant Practice Act. For out-of-state facilities that have Illinois recognition under the EMS, trauma, or pediatric program, the PA shall have an unencumbered license in the state in which the PA practices.

 

Pilot or EMS Pilot – a pilot certified by the Federal Aviation Administration who has been approved by an SEMSV Medical Director to fly a helicopter or fixed-wing aircraft used in a Department-certified SEMSV Program.

 

Police Dog – a specially trained dog owned or used by a law enforcement department or agency in the course of the department's or agency's official work, including a search and rescue dog, service dog, accelerant detection canine, or other dog that is in use by a county, municipal, or State law enforcement agency for official duties. (Section 3.55(e) of the Act)

 

Practitioner Order for Life-Sustaining Treatment on POLST or Do Not Resuscitate or DNR – an authorized practitioner order that reflects an individual's wishes about receiving cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and life-sustaining treatments, including medical interventions and artificially administered nutrition.

 

Pre-Hospital Advanced Practice Registered Nurse or PHAPRN – an APRN, with an unencumbered APRN license in Illinois, who has successfully completed supplemental education in accordance with this Part and who is approved by an Illinois EMS Medical Director to practice within an EMS System for pre-hospital and inter-hospital emergency care and non-emergency medical transports.

 

Pre-Hospital Care – those medical services rendered to patients for analytic, resuscitative, stabilizing, or preventive purposes, precedent to and during transportation of such patients to healthcare facilities.  (Section 3.10(e) of the Act)

 

Pre-Hospital Care Participants – Any EMS Personnel, Ambulance Service Provider, EMS Vehicle, Associate Hospital, Participating Hospital, EMS Administrative Director, EMS System Coordinator, Associate Hospital EMS Coordinator, Associate Hospital EMS Medical Director, ECRN, Resource Hospital, Emergency Dispatch Center or physician serving on an ambulance or non-transport vehicle or giving voice orders for an EMS System and who are subject to suspension by the EMS Medical Director of that System in accordance with the policies of the EMS System Program Plan approved by the Department.

 

Pre-Hospital Physician Assistant or PHPA – a graduate PA, with an unencumbered Illinois Physician Assistant License, who has successfully completed supplemental education in accordance with this Part and who is approved by an Illinois EMS Medical Director to practice within an EMS System for pre-hospital and inter-hospital emergency care and non-emergency medical transports.

 

Pre-Hospital Registered Nurse or PHRN – a registered professional nurse, with an unencumbered registered professional nurse license in the state in which he or she practices who has successfully completed supplemental education in accordance with this Part and who is approved by an Illinois EMS Medical Director to practice within an EMS System for pre-hospital and inter-hospital emergency care and non-emergency medical transports.  (Section 3.80 of the Act) For out-of-state facilities that have Illinois recognition under the EMS, trauma, or pediatric program, the professional shall have an unencumbered license in the state in which the professional practices.

 

Primary Stroke Center or PSC – a hospital that has been certified by a Department-approved, nationally recognized certifying body and designated as a Primary Stroke Center by the Department.  (Section 3.116 of the Act)

 

Provisional EMR – a person who is at least 16 years of age, who has successfully completed a course of instruction for emergency medical responders as prescribed by the Department and passed the exam, and who functions within an approved EMS System pursuant to Section 515.715.

 

Regional EMS Advisory Committee – a committee formed within an Emergency Medical Services Region to advise the Region's EMS Medical Directors Committee and to select the Region's representative to the State Emergency Medical Services Advisory Council, consisting of at least the members of the Region's EMS Medical Directors Committee, the Chair of the Regional Trauma Committee, the EMS System Coordinators from each Resource Hospital within the Region, one administrative representative from an Associate Hospital within the Region, one administrative representative from a Participating Hospital within the Region, one administrative representative from the vehicle service provider which responds to the highest number of calls for emergency service within the Region, one administrative representative of a vehicle service provider from each System within the Region, one individual from each level of license provided by the Act, one pre-hospital registered nurse practicing within the Region, and one registered professional nurse currently practicing in an emergency department within the Region.  Of the two administrative representatives of vehicle service providers, at least one shall be an administrative representative of a private vehicle service provider.  The Department's Regional EMS Coordinator for each Region shall serve as a non-voting member of that Region's EMS Advisory Committee.  (Section 3.25 of the Act)

 

Regional EMS Coordinator – the designee of the Chief, Division of Emergency Medical Services and Highway Safety, Department of Public Health.

 

Regional EMS Medical Directors Committee – a group comprised of the Region's EMS Medical Directors, along with the medical advisor to a fire department vehicle service provider.  For regions that include a municipal fire department serving a population of over 2,000,000 people, that fire department's medical advisor shall serve on the Committee. For other regions, the fire department vehicle service providers shall select which medical advisor to serve on the Committee on an annual basis. (Section 3.25 of the Act)

 

Regional Stroke Advisory Subcommittee – a subcommittee formed within each Regional EMS Advisory Committee to advise the Director and the Region's EMS Medical Directors Committee on the triage, treatment, and transport of possible acute stroke patients and to select the Region's representative to the State Stroke Advisory Subcommittee. (Section 3.116 of the Act) The composition of the Subcommittee shall be as set forth in Section 3.116 of the Act.

 

Regional Trauma Advisory Committee – a committee formed within an Emergency Medical Services Region, to advise the Region's Trauma Center Medical Directors Committee, consisting of at least the Trauma Center Medical Directors and Trauma Coordinators from each trauma center within the Region, one EMS Medical Director from a Resource Hospital within the Region, one EMS System Coordinator from another Resource Hospital within the Region, one representative each from a public and private vehicle service provider which transports trauma patients within the Region, an administrative representative from each trauma center within the Region, one EMR, EMD, EMT, EMT-I, A-EMT, Paramedic, ECRN, or PHRN representing the highest level of EMS Personnel practicing within the Region, one emergency physician and one trauma nurse specialist currently practicing in a trauma center.  The Department's Regional EMS Coordinator for each Region shall serve as a non-voting member of that Region's Trauma Advisory Committee.  (Section 3.25 of the Act)

 

Registered Nurse or Registered Professional Nurse or RN – a person who is licensed as an RN under the Illinois Nurse Practice Act. For out-of-state facilities that have Illinois recognition under the EMS, trauma, or pediatric program, the registered professional nurse shall have an unencumbered license in the state in which the nurse practices.

 

Resource Hospital – the hospital with the authority and the responsibility for an EMS System as outlined in the Department-approved EMS System Program Plan.  The Resource Hospital, through the EMS Medical Director, assumes responsibility for the entire program, including the clinical aspects, operations and education programs.  This hospital agrees to replace medical supplies and provide for equipment exchange for participating EMS vehicles.

 

Resource Limitation – a hospital may request to go on Resource Limitation, which occurs when healthcare resources are limited, and the healthcare demand exceeds available supplies.

 

Rural Ambulance Service Provider – an ambulance service provider licensed under the Act that serves a rural population of 7,500 or fewer inhabitants. (Section 3.87(a) of the Act)

 

Rural In-Field Service Level Upgrade – a practice that allows the delivery of advanced care for a lower level service provider that serves a rural population of 7,500 or fewer inhabitants, through use of EMS System approved EMS personnel.

 

Rural Vehicle Service Provider – an entity that serves a rural population of 7,500 or fewer inhabitants and is licensed by the Department to provide emergency or non-emergency medical services in compliance with the Act, this Part and an operational plan approved by the entity's EMS System, utilizing at least an ambulance, alternate response vehicle as defined by the Department in this Part, or specialized emergency medical services vehicle. (Section 3.87(a) of the Act)

 

Screening – a preliminary procedure or assessment, such as a test or examination, to detect the most characteristic sign or signs of a disorder or condition that may require further investigation (for example, assessing for potential abuse or neglect through interview responses and behavioral/physical symptom clues).

 

SEMSV Medical Direction Point or Medical Direction Point – the communication center from which the SEMSV Medical Director or designee issues medical instructions or advice to the aeromedical, watercraft, or off-road SEMSV crew members.

 

SEMSV Medical Director or Medical Director – the physician appointed by the SEMSV Program who has the responsibility and authority for total management of the SEMSV Program, subject to the requirements of the EMS System of which the SEMSV Program is a part.

 

SEMSV Program or Specialized Emergency Medical Services Vehicle Program – a program operating within an EMS System, pursuant to an EMS System program plan submitted to and certified by the Department, using specialized emergency medical services vehicles to provide emergency transportation to sick or injured persons.

 

Special-Use Vehicle – any publicly or privately owned vehicle that is specifically designed, constructed or modified and equipped, and is intended to be used for, and is maintained or operated solely for, the emergency or non-emergency transportation of a specific medical class or category of persons who are sick, injured, wounded or otherwise incapacitated or helpless (e.g., high-risk obstetrical patients, neonatal patients).  (Section 3.85 of the Act)

 

Specialized Emergency Medical Services Vehicle or SEMSV – a vehicle or conveyance, other than those owned or operated by the federal government, that is primarily intended for use in transporting the sick or injured by means of air, water, or ground transportation, that is not an ambulance as defined in the Act.  The term includes watercraft, aircraft and special purpose ground transport vehicles not intended for use on public roads.  (Section 3.85 of the Act) "Primarily intended", for the purposes of this definition, means one or more of the following:

 

Over 50 percent of the vehicle's operational (i.e., in-flight) hours are devoted to the emergency transportation of the sick or injured;

 

The vehicle is owned or leased by a hospital or ambulance provider and is used for the emergency transportation of the sick or injured;

 

The vehicle is advertised as a vehicle for the emergency transportation of the sick or injured;

 

The vehicle is owned, registered or licensed in another state and is used on a regular basis to pick up and transport the sick or injured within or from within this State; or

 

The vehicle's structure or permanent fixtures have been specifically designed to accommodate the emergency transportation of the sick or injured.

 

Standby Emergency Department – a classification of a hospital emergency department where at least one of the RNs on duty in the hospital is available for emergency services at all times, and a licensed physician is "on-call" to the emergency department at all times in accordance with Section 250.710 of the Hospital Licensing Requirements.

 

Standby Emergency Department Approved for Pediatrics or SEDP – a hospital participating in an approved EMS System and designated by the Department, pursuant to Section 515.4010, as being capable of providing optimal standby emergency department care to pediatric patients and to have transfer agreements and transfer mechanisms in place when more definitive pediatric care is needed.

 

State EMS Advisory Council – a group that advises the Department on the administration of the Act and this Part whose members are appointed in accordance with Section 3.200 of the Act.

 

Stretcher Van – a vehicle used by a licensed stretcher van provider to transport non-emergency passengers in accordance with the Act and this Part.

 

Stretcher Van Provider – an entity licensed by the Department to provide non-emergency transportation of passengers on a stretcher in compliance with the Act and this Part, utilizing stretcher vans. (Section 3.86 of the Act)

 

Stroke Network – a voluntary association of hospitals, including a hospital with a board eligible or board certified neurosurgeon or neurologist, that may, among other activities, share stroke protocols; provide medical consultations on possible or known acute stroke patients or on inter-facility transfers of possible or known acute stroke patients; or provide education specific to improving acute stroke care.  Participating hospitals in a stroke network may be in-state or out-of-state.

 

Substantial Compliance – meeting requirements except for variance from the strict and literal performance that results in unimportant omissions or defects given the particular circumstances involved.

 

Substantial Failure – the failure to meet requirements other than a variance from the strict and literal performance that results in unimportant omissions or defects given the particular circumstances involved.

 

Sustained Hypotension – two systolic blood pressures of 90 mmHg five minutes apart or, in the case of a pediatric patient, two systolic blood pressures of 80 mmHg five minutes apart.

 

System Participation Suspension – the suspension from participation within an EMS System of an individual or individual provider, as specifically ordered by that System's EMS Medical Director.

 

Telecommunications Equipment – a communication system capable of transmitting and receiving voice and electrocardiogram (EKG) signals.

 

Telemetry – the transmission of data through a communication system to a receiving station for recording, interpretation and analysis.

 

Transport Vehicle Service Provider – any individual, group of individuals, corporation, partnership, association, trust, joint venture, unit of local government or other public or private ownership entity that owns and operates an EMS business or EMS transport service using one or more ambulances or EMS vehicles for the transportation of emergency patients.

 

Trauma – any significant injury which involves single or multiple organ systems.  (Section 3.5 of the Act)

 

Trauma Category I – a classification of trauma patients in accordance with Appendix C and Appendix F.

 

Trauma Category II – a classification of trauma patients in accordance with Appendix C and Appendix F.

 

Trauma Center – a hospital which:  within designated capabilities provides optimal care to trauma patients; participates in an approved EMS System; and is duly designated pursuant to the provisions of the Act. (Section 3.90 of the Act)

 

Trauma Center Medical Director or Trauma Center MD – the trauma surgeon appointed by a Department-designated Trauma Center who has the responsibility and authority for the coordination and management of patient care and trauma services at the Trauma Center.  He or she must have 24-hour independent operating privileges and shall be board certified in surgery with at least one year of experience in trauma care.

 

Trauma Center Medical Directors Committee – a group composed of the Region's Trauma Center Medical Directors.  (Section 3.25 of the Act)

 

Trauma Coordinator – an RN working in conjunction with the Trauma Medical Director.  The Trauma Coordinator is responsible for the organization of service and systems necessary for a multidisciplinary approach throughout the continuum of trauma care.

 

Trauma Nurse Specialist or TNS – an RN licensed under the Nurse Practice Act who has successfully completed supplemental education and testing requirements as prescribed by the Department, and is licensed in accordance with this Part.  (Section 3.75 of the Act) For out-of-state facilities that have Illinois recognition under the EMS, trauma, or pediatric program, the professional shall have an unencumbered license in the state in which the professional practices.

 

Trauma Nurse Specialist Course Coordinator or TNSCC – an RN appointed by the Chief Executive Officer of a hospital designated as a TNS education site, who meets the requirements of Section 515.750.

 

Trauma Service – an identified hospital surgical service in a Level I or Level II Trauma Center functioning under a designated trauma director in accordance with Sections 515.2030(c) and 515.2040(c).

 

Unit Identifier – a number assigned by the Department for each EMS vehicle in the State to be used in radio communications.

 

Vehicle Service Provider – an entity licensed by the Department to provide emergency or non-emergency medical services in compliance with the Act and this Part and an operational plan approved by its EMS Systems, utilizing at least ambulances or specialized emergency medical service vehicles (SEMSV).  (Section 3.85(a) of the Act)

 

Watercraft – a nautical vessel, boat, airboat, hovercraft or other vehicle that operates in, on or across water.

 

(Source:  Amended at 48 Ill. Reg. 16159, effective November 1, 2024)