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| Public Act 098-0608 | ||||
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AN ACT concerning regulation.
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Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
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represented in the General Assembly:
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Section 5. The Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Systems Act | ||||
is amended by adding Section 3.87 as follows: | ||||
(210 ILCS 50/3.87 new) | ||||
Sec. 3.87. Ambulance service upgrades; rural population. | ||||
(a) In this Section, "rural ambulance service provider" | ||||
means an ambulance service provider licensed under this Act | ||||
that serves a rural population of 7,500 or fewer inhabitants. | ||||
(b) A rural ambulance service provider may submit a | ||||
proposal to the EMS System Medical Director requesting approval | ||||
of either or both of the following: | ||||
(1) Rural ambulance service provider in-field service | ||||
level upgrade. | ||||
(A) An ambulance operated by a rural ambulance | ||||
service provider may be upgraded, as defined by the EMS | ||||
System Medical Director in a policy or procedure, as | ||||
long as the EMS System Medical Director and the | ||||
Department have approved the proposal, to the highest | ||||
level of EMT license (advanced life support/paramedic, | ||||
intermediate life support, or basic life support) held | ||||
by any person staffing that ambulance. The ambulance | ||||
service provider's proposal for an upgrade must | ||
include all of the following: | ||
(i) The manner in which the provider will | ||
secure advanced life support equipment, supplies, | ||
and medications. | ||
(ii) The type of quality assurance the | ||
provider will perform. | ||
(iii) An assurance that the provider will | ||
advertise only the level of care that can be | ||
provided 24 hours a day. | ||
(B) If a rural ambulance service provider is | ||
approved to provide an in-field service level upgrade | ||
based on the licensed personnel on the vehicle, all the | ||
advanced life support medical supplies, durable | ||
medical equipment, and medications must be secured and | ||
locked with access by only the personnel who have been | ||
authorized by the EMS System Medical Director to | ||
utilize those supplies. | ||
(C) The EMS System shall routinely perform quality | ||
assurance, in compliance with the EMS System's quality | ||
assurance plan approved by the Department, on in-field | ||
service level upgrades authorized under this Section | ||
to ensure compliance with the EMS System plan. | ||
(2) Rural ambulance service provider in-field service | ||
level upgrade. The EMS System Medical Director may define | ||
what constitutes an in-field service level upgrade through | ||
an EMS System policy or procedure.
An in-field service | ||
level upgrade may include, but need not be limited to, an | ||
upgrade to a licensed ambulance, alternate response | ||
vehicle as defined by the Department in rules, or | ||
specialized emergency medical services vehicle. | ||
(c) If the EMS System Medical Director approves a proposal | ||
for a rural in-field service level upgrade under this Section, | ||
he or she shall submit the proposal to the Department along | ||
with a statement of approval signed by him or her. Once the | ||
Department has approved the proposal, the rural ambulance | ||
service provider will be authorized to function at the highest | ||
level of EMT license (advanced life support/paramedic, | ||
intermediate life support, or basic life support) held by any | ||
person staffing the vehicle.
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Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon | ||
becoming law. | ||