(a)Emergency medical services (EMS) Education Program Standards. The Texas Department of State Health Services (department) [Bureau of Emergency Management (bureau)] shall develop and publish an EMS Education and Training Manual (manual) outlining standards for EMS education that address at least the following areas: (1) - (11)(No change.) (b)Consideration of training standards. (1)The department [Texas Department of Health (department)] shall base the manual on applicable standards and guidelines for evaluation and approval of EMS education programs adopted by national accrediting organizations. (2) - (3)(No change.) (c)Curriculum. (1)Emergency Care Attendant (ECA) (A)The minimum curriculum shall include all content required by the current national Emergency Medical Responder (EMR) [EMS First Responder] educational standards and competencies as defined in the National EMS Education Standards by the United States Department of Transportation (DOT). (B) - (C)(No change.) (2)Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) [Technician-Basic (EMT-B)]. (A)The minimum curriculum shall include all content required by the current national EMT [EMT-B] educational standards and competencies as defined in the National EMS Education Standards by DOT. (B)(No change.) (3)Emergency Medical Technician-Intermediate (EMT-I). (A)The minimum curriculum shall include all content required by the [portions of the] current national Advanced Emergency Medical Technician (AEMT) [paramedic education] standards and competencies as defined in the National EMS Education Standards by DOT. The following areas must be addressed as outlined in the AEMT national educational standards and the Health and Safety Code, §773.048 [which address the following areas]: (i) - (xiii)(No change.) (B)The course shall include a minimum of 160 clock hours of classroom, laboratory, clinical, and field instruction which shall include supervised experiences in the emergency department with a licensed EMS provider and in other settings as needed to develop the competencies defined in the AEMT national educational standards [ minimum curriculum]. (C)A student shall have a current EMT certification from the department or National Registry prior to beginning and throughout field and clinical rotations in an EMT-I course. [(C)Certification as an EMT-Basic shall be required prior to beginning field and clinical rotations in an EMT-I course.] (4)Emergency Medical Technician-Paramedic (EMT-P). (A)The minimum curriculum shall include all content required by the current national paramedic education standards and competencies in the National EMS Education Standards as defined by DOT. (B)(No change.) (C)A student shall have a current EMT or EMT-I certification from the department or current EMT, EMT-I or AEMT certification from the National Registry prior to beginning and throughout field and clinical rotations in an EMT-P course. [(C)Certification as an EMT-Basic shall be required prior to beginning field and clinical rotations in an EMT-P course.] (d) - (e)(No change.) (f)Currently approved programs. Programs that have obtained approval as of the effective date of this rule shall be considered to have met the requirements of subsections (g) or (h) of this section appropriate to their current level of approval. Paramedic programs must become accredited by December 31, 2012, and provide proof of accreditation by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP)/Committee on Accreditation of Educational Programs (CoAEMSP), or a national accrediting organization recognized by the department. Alternatively, the program may provide a letter from CAAHEP/ CoAEMSP or a national accrediting organization recognized by the department stating the education program has submitted the appropriate documentation that indicates it being in pursuit of accreditation as defined by that organization. (g) - (l)(No change.) (m)National accreditation for paramedic education/training programs. (1)In addition to the requirements listed in subsection (h) of this section, all EMS education/training programs currently conducting paramedic education and training must meet the following requirements to receive approval as a paramedic education and training program: (A)on or before December 31, 2012, become accredited and provide proof of accreditation by the CAAHEP/CoAEMSP, or a national accrediting organization recognized by the department; or (B)provide documentation from CAAHEP/CoAEMSP or a national accrediting organization recognized by the department stating the education program has submitted the appropriate documentation that indicates it being in pursuit of accreditation as defined by the CAAHEP/CoAEMSP or a national accrediting organization recognized by the department on or before December 31, 2012. The education/training program that is deemed as pursuing accreditation may be temporarily approved by the department. In order to receive program approval, the education/training program must be accredited and provide proof of their accreditation by the national accrediting organization to the department. (2)If the education/training program does not become accredited or has their accreditation revoked by the national accrediting organization the program will not be allowed to conduct a paramedic education or training course until the program becomes accredited or the program is recognized by the national accrediting organization as being in pursuit of accreditation. (3)Initial or current education programs that are not accredited and would like to offer paramedic education and training on or after January 1, 2013 must: (A)be approved by the department as an EMS basic education program, according to subsection (g) of this section; (B)submit the appropriate application and fees to the department; (C)meet the accreditation standards set by CAAHEP/CoAEMSP or another department approved national accrediting organization in order for the department to issue the applicant a temporary approval to conduct paramedic education or training courses; (D)provide proof of accreditation by CAAHEP/CoAEMSP or another national accrediting organization recognized by the department. If the training program does not become accredited the program will not be allowed to conduct another paramedic education or training course until the program becomes accredited or the department receives notification from the accrediting organization that the program is recognized as being in pursuit of accreditation as defined by the accrediting organization. (4)If a program has been accredited by CAAHEP/CoAEMSP or a national accrediting organization recognized by the department, the department may exempt the program from the program approval or re-approval process. (5)Programs accredited by CAAHEP/CoAEMSP or another national accrediting organization recognized by the department shall provide the department with copies of: (A)the accreditation self study; (B)the accreditation letter or certificate; and (C)any correspondence or updates to or from the national accrediting organization that impact the program's status. (6)On request of the department, programs shall permit the department's representatives to participate in site visits performed by national accrediting organizations. (7)If the department takes disciplinary action against a nationally accredited program for violations that could indicate substantial noncompliance with a national accrediting organization's essentials or standards, the department shall advise the national accrediting organization of the action and the evidence on which the action was based. (8)If a program's national accreditation lapses or is withdrawn, the program shall meet all requirements of this subsection or subsections (g) or (h) of this section within a reasonable period of time as determined by the department. [(1)If a program has been accredited through a national accrediting organization recognized by the department, the department may exempt the program from the program approval or re-approval process. If a program is denied, the program has an opportunity to request a hearing in accordance with §§1.21-1.34 of this title (relating to Formal Hearing Procedures).] [(2)Nationally accredited programs shall provide the department with copies of:] [(A)the accreditation self study;] [(B)the accreditation letter or certificate; and] [(C)any correspondence or updates to or from the accrediting organization that impact the program's status.] [(3)On request of the department, programs shall permit the department's representatives to participate in site visits performed by national accrediting organizations.] [(4)If the department takes disciplinary action against a nationally accredited program for violations that could indicate substantial noncompliance with a national accrediting organization's essentials or standards, the department shall advise the national accrediting organization of the action and the evidence on which the action was based.] [(5)If a program's national accreditation lapses or is withdrawn, the program shall meet all requirements of subsection (g) or (h) of this section within a reasonable period of time as determined by the department.] (n)Denial of program approval. A program may be denied approval, provisional approval, or re-approval for, but not limited to, the following reasons: (1)failure to meet the requirements established in subsection (g), [or] (h) or (m) of this section; (2) - (9)(No change.) (10)having disciplinary action imposed by the department on the provider license, personnel certification or licensure, or program for violation of any provision of Health and Safety Code, Chapter 773 or 25 Texas Administrative Code, Chapter 157; or[ .] (11)failure of a paramedic program to become accredited or maintain their accreditation by CAAHEP/CoAEMSP or another national accrediting organization recognized by the department. (o)Responsibilities. A program shall be responsible to: (1) - (18)(No change.) (19)provide the department with information and reports necessary for planning, administrative, regulatory, or investigative purposes; [and] (20)provide the department with any information that will effect the program's interaction with the department,[ ;] including but not limited to changes in: (A) - (E)(No change.) (F)program's physical and mailing address; and[ .] (21)provide proof of accreditation by CAAHEP/CoAEMSP or another national accrediting organization recognized by the department. (p)Program Re-approval. (1) - (3)(No change.) (4)To be eligible for re-approval, the program shall meet all the requirements in subsections (g), [or] (h) or (m) of this section as appropriate to the level of approval requested; and (A)(No change.) (B)document progress toward correction of any deficiencies identified by the program or the department through the self-study and on-site review process; [and] (C)host an on-site review if one is deemed necessary by the department or requested by the program; and[.] (D)a paramedic program must provide documentation of current accreditation from CoAEMSP or another national accrediting organization recognized by the department. (q) - (s)(No change.) (t)Disciplinary actions. (1)(No change.) (2)Non-emergency suspension or revocation. A program's approval may be suspended or revoked for, but not limited to, the following reasons: (A) - (U)(No change.) (V)committing a violation within 24 months of being placed on probation; [and/or] (W)offering or attempting to offer courses during a period when the program's approval is suspended; and/or[ .] (X)a paramedic program receiving revocation of their accreditation by CAAHEP/CoAEMSP. (3) - (6)(No change.) (u)For all applications and renewal applications, the department [(or the board)] is authorized to collect subscription and convenience fees, in amounts determined by the Texas Online Authority, to recover costs associated with application and renewal application processing through texas.gov [Texas Online].
This agency hereby certifies that the proposal has
been reviewed by legal counsel and found to be within the agency's
legal authority to adopt.
Filed with the Office
of the Secretary of State on April 23, 2012
TRD-201202066 Lisa Hernandez
General Counsel
Department of State Health Services
Earliest possible date of adoption: June 3, 2012
For further information, please call: (512) 776-6990
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