House Bill 332

140th General Assembly (1999 - 2000)

Bill Progress

Signed 7/12/99
The General Assembly has ended, the current status is the final status.

Bill Details

6/17/99
AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 16 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO PARAMEDIC AND OTHER EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICE SYSTEMS.
This bill addresses several weaknesses in the current Delaware Emergency Medical Services (EMS) System in order to achieve optimal performance and to ensure the protection of the health and safety of all Delawareans. The bill consolidates oversight of the EMS system by creating the Delaware Emergency Medical Services Oversight Council (DEMSOC) which replaces the current Delaware Emergency Medical Services Advisory Council (DEMSAC) and Paramedic Advisory Council (PAC). DEMSOC will monitor Delaware’s EMS system to ensure that all components of the system are functioning in a coordinated, effective and efficient manner. The bill strengthens the authority of the State Fire Prevention Commission (SFPC) to oversee the operation and functioning of the Basic Life Support (BLS) or ambulance service providers. The bill removes the current limitation on the operation of Advanced Life Support (ALS) that requires county paramedic agencies to provide a specific numbers of units at all times and replaces it with a minimum number of paramedic staff hours. The bill also allows the county paramedic agencies to conduct pilot programs using staff configurations other than 2 paramedics per unit subject to approval by the Board of Medical Practice. The bill improves medical oversight of the system by consolidating responsibility for all components of the system at the county level and creating a SFPC Medical Director to serve as an advisor to the SFPC. The bill requires the Office of Emergency Medical Services (OEMS) to coordinate a statewide effort to promote and implement widespread use of semi-automatic external defibrillators (SAEDs) and to maintain a minimum number of individuals trained to use SAEDs. Finally, the bill establishes minimum requirements for the operation of Emergency Medical Dispatch (EMD) centers to ensure timely and appropriate handling of calls for medical assistance.
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Takes effect upon being signed into law
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