§ 2651. Definitions

As used in this chapter:

(1) “Advanced emergency medical treatment” means those portions of emergency medical treatment as defined by the Department of Health, which may be performed by licensed emergency medical services personnel acting under the supervision of a physician within a system of medical control approved by the Department of Health.

(2) “Ambulance” means any vehicle, whether air, ground, or water, that is designed, constructed, used, or intended for use in transporting ill or injured persons.

(3) “Ambulance service” means a person licensed by the Department of Health to provide emergency medical treatment and transportation to ill or injured persons.

(4) “Basic emergency medical treatment” means those portions of emergency medical treatment, as defined by the Department of Health, which may be exercised by licensed emergency medical services personnel acting under their own authority.

(5) “District board” means the board of directors of a district appointed under section 2653 of this title.

(6) “Emergency medical personnel” means persons, including volunteers, licensed by the Department of Health to provide emergency medical treatment on behalf of an affiliated agency whose primary function is the provision of emergency medical treatment. The term does not include duly licensed or registered physicians, dentists, nurses, or physician assistants when practicing in their customary work setting.

(7) “Emergency medical services” means an integrated system of personnel, equipment, communication, and services to provide emergency medical treatment.

(8) “Emergency medical services district” means a political subdivision established to facilitate the provision of pre-hospital emergency medical treatment within a given area.

(9) “Emergency medical treatment” means pre-hospital, in-hospital, and interhospital medical treatment rendered by emergency medical personnel given to individuals who have experienced sudden illness or injury in order to prevent loss of life, the aggravation of the illness or injury, or to alleviate suffering. Emergency medical treatment includes basic emergency medical treatment and advanced emergency medical treatment.

(10) “First responder service” means a person licensed by the Department of Health to provide emergency medical treatment.

(11) “Medical control” means the entire system of quality assurance and medical accountability for basic and advanced emergency medical treatment as prescribed by this chapter. “Prehospital medical control” shall include direction and advice given to emergency medical personnel by a physician or a person acting under the direct supervision of a physician provided through:

(A) off-line medical control functions or direction of emergency medical personnel through use of protocols, review of cases, and determination of outcomes, and through training programs; and

(B) on-line medical control functions, via radio or telephone, of field personnel at the site of the emergency and en route to a hospital emergency department.

(12) “Medical facilities” means a hospital providing emergency services to an emergency medical services district.

(13) “Person” means any person, firm, partnership, association, corporation, municipality, or political subdivision, including emergency medical services districts as provided for in this subchapter.

(14) [Repealed.]

(15) “Volunteer personnel” means persons who are licensed by the Department of Health to provide emergency medical treatment on behalf of an affiliated agency without expectation of remuneration for the treatment rendered other than nominal payments and reimbursement for expenses, and who do not depend in any significant way on the provision of such treatment for their livelihood.

(16) “Affiliated agency” means an ambulance service or first responder service licensed under this chapter, including a fire department, rescue squad, police department, ski patrol, hospital, or other entity licensed to provide emergency medical services under this chapter. (Added 1969, No. 112, § 1, eff. April 22, 1969; amended 1983, No. 226 (Adj. Sess.), § 1; 2011, No. 155 (Adj. Sess.), § 40; 2013, No. 96 (Adj. Sess.), § 151; 2019, No. 166 (Adj. Sess.), § 27, eff. Oct. 1, 2020.)