New Jersey Administrative Code
Title 8 - HEALTH
Chapter 41A - EMERGENCY MEDICAL TECHNICIANS-PARAMEDIC: TRAINING AND CERTIFICATION
Subchapter 1 - AUTHORITY, SCOPE AND DEFINITIONS
Section 8:41A-1.3 - Definitions
The following words and terms, as used in this chapter, shall have the following meanings, unless the context in which they are used clearly indicates otherwise:
"ACLS certification" or "certification in ACLS" means valid certification in Advanced Cardiac Life Support as issued by the American Heart Association.
"Advanced life support" or "ALS" means an advanced level of pre-hospital, inter-facility or emergency medical care that includes basic life support functions, cardiac monitoring, cardiac defibrillation, telemetered electrocardiography, administration of anti-arrhythmic agents, intravenous (IV) therapy, administration of specific medications, drugs and solutions, utilization of adjunctive ventilation devices, trauma care and other techniques and procedures authorized in writing by the Commissioner.
"Advanced practice nurse" means a person who is validly licensed by the New Jersey Board of Nursing in accordance with the standards set forth at 45:11-45 et seq.
"AHA CPR Guidelines" means the "Guidelines 2000 for Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and Emergency Cardiovascular Care" as published by the American Heart Association, National Center, 7272 Greenville Avenue, Dallas, TX 75231-4596, incorporated herein by reference, as amended and supplemented. A copy of the guidelines is on file and available for inspection at the Office of Emergency Medical Services.
"Air medical unit" or "AMU" means a specially equipped helicopter or airplane that is validly licensed by the Department and operated in accordance with the standards set forth at N.J.A.C. 8:41.
"Airplane" means, as defined at 14 C.F.R. 1.1, an engine-driven fixed-wing aircraft heavier than air, which is supported in flight by the dynamic reaction of the air against its wings.
"ALS crewmember" means:
1. A registered nurse who meets the requirements set forth at 8:41-9.9 or 8:41-10.8(d)1 through (d)5 vii; and/or
2. An EMT-Paramedic, who staffs a mobile intensive care unit, specialty care transport unit or air medical unit.
"Automated external defibrillator" or "AED" means a device that can be attached to a patient in cardiopulmonary arrest, analyze an electrocardiogram for the presence of potentially lethal dysrhythmias (specifically, ventricular fibrillation and fast ventricular tachycardia), deliver an electrical defibrillation to the patient in accordance with the requirements of standard treatment protocols, and produce an event summary that documents significant events in the utilization of the device, specifically events prior to and after an electrical defibrillation.
"Available" means ready for immediate utilization (pertaining to equipment, vehicles and personnel) or immediately accessible (pertaining to records).
"Basic life support" or "BLS" means a basic level of pre-hospital care that includes patient stabilization, airway clearance and maintenance, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) (to the level of the Professional Rescuer or Health Care Provider as issued by either the American Heart Association, the American Red Cross, the National Safety Council or other entity determined by the Department to comply with AHA CPR Guidelines), hemorrhage control, initial wound care, fracture stabilization, victim extrication and other techniques and procedures as defined in the EMT-Basic: National Standard Curriculum promulgated by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration of the United States Department of Transportation, as amended and supplemented (obtainable from The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 400 7th Street S.W., Washington, D.C. 20590, by accessing the NHTSA website at www.nhtsa.dot.gov/people/injury/emsor by calling (888) 327-4236).
"Basic life support ambulance" or "BLS ambulance" means an emergency medical services vehicle that is validly licensed by the Department and operated in accordance with the standards set forth at N.J.A.C. 8:40.
"Certificate of need" means the formal written approval of the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services to construct or expand a health care facility or to institute a new health care service, in accordance with requirements set forth at N.J.A.C. 8:33.
"Certified" or "certification" means official documentation that a person has completed all the requirements of an approved training program and has demonstrated competence in the subject matter to the satisfaction of the certifying agency.
"Clinical portion" means the practical "hands-on" portion of the program curriculum or the refresher curriculum, as appropriate in the context of the provision.
"Clinical training site" means a mobile intensive care hospital, as defined in this section, which has been authorized by the Department to provide the clinical portion of an EMT-Paramedic training program.
"Commissioner" means the Commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services.
"Controlled dangerous substance" means a drug, substance or immediate precursor identified in Schedules I through V of the New Jersey Controlled Dangerous Substances Act (24:21-5 through 8.1). The term shall not include distilled spirits, wine or malt beverages, as those terms are defined or utilized in 33:1-1 et seq., or tobacco and tobacco products.
"Convicted" or "conviction" means a finding of guilt by a judge or jury, a guilty plea, a plea of nolo contendere or non-vult or entry into a pre-trial intervention program, conditional discharge or other diversionary program authorized under the statutes of the State of New Jersey or under any other state's statutes.
"CPR certification" means valid certification in cardiopulmonary resuscitation to the level of the Professional Rescuer or Health Care Provider as issued by the American Heart Association, the American Red Cross, the National Safety Council or other entity determined by the Department to comply with AHA CPR Guidelines.
"Crewmember" means any person (including, but not limited to, an EMT-Basic, EMT-Paramedic or registered nurse) who staffs a basic life support ambulance, mobile intensive care unit, specialty care transport unit or aero-medical unit.
"Crime" means, in accordance with the New Jersey Code of Criminal Justice, specifically 2C:1-4, any offense for which a sentence of imprisonment in excess of six months is authorized.
"Department" means the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services.
"Didactic coordinator" means the person responsible for coordinating the didactic portion of an EMT-Paramedic training program. The specific responsibilities required of a didactic coordinator are set forth at 8:41A-2.3(c).
"Didactic portion" means the textbook/lecture portion of the program curriculum or the refresher curriculum, as appropriate in the context of the provision.
"Didactic training site" means a New Jersey college, accredited by the Department of Higher Education, which has been authorized by the Department to provide the didactic portion of an EMT-Paramedic training program.
"Director" means the person responsible for all activities of a mobile intensive care program. The specific requirements necessary to serve as a mobile intensive care program director are set forth at 8:41-9.3.
"Disorderly persons offense" or "petty disorderly persons offense" shall have the same meaning as the definition provided by the New Jersey Code of Criminal Justice at 2C:1-4, incorporated herein by reference, as amended and supplemented. Generally, such offenses are under the jurisdiction of municipal courts, carry a maximum jail term of six months or less, and are characterized by being minor in nature, not giving rise to the rights of trial by jury or indictment by grant jury. Examples of these offenses include harassment, obstructing a public passage, and fighting in a public place.
"Emergency" means a person's perceived need for immediate medical care in order to prevent death or aggravation of physiological or psychological illness or injury.
"Emergency medical services" or "EMS" means a system for the provision of emergency care and transportation of persons who are sick or injured and in need of immediate medical care.
"Emergency Medical Technician-Basic" or "EMT-Basic" means a person trained in basic life support care and validly certified or recognized by the Commissioner in accordance with the standards for Emergency Medical Technician-Basic certification as set forth at N.J.A.C. 8:40A.
"Emergency Medical Technician-Paramedic" or "EMT-Paramedic" means a person trained in advanced life support cares and validly certified or recognized by the Commissioner in accordance with the standards for Emergency Medical Technician-Paramedic certification as set forth in this chapter.
"EMS Educator" means the person responsible for coordinating all activities associated with the clinical portion of an EMT-Paramedic training program. The specific responsibilities required of an EMS Educator are set forth at 8:41A-2.4(c).
"EMT-Paramedic student" means a person enrolled in an EMT-Paramedic training program.
"EMT-Paramedic training program" means a course of study, as provided for in this chapter, consisting of both didactic and clinical instruction, designed for the purpose of preparing a person to sit for the NREMT-Paramedic Certification Examination.
"Evaluator" means a person responsible for administering the practical "hands-on" portion of the NREMT-Paramedic Certification Examination. Evaluators are identified, appointed and trained by the Office of Emergency Medical Services to observe and record the actions of each EMT-Paramedic student based upon the criteria for each skill tested, in accordance with the standards and guidelines established by the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians.
"Field preceptor" means a person, identified by the didactic coordinator and/or the EMS Educator, who possesses a higher level of expertise in both the subject matter and field training requirements of EMT-Paramedic students. A field preceptor shall be responsible for monitoring EMT-Paramedic students in the demonstration of knowledge and in the performance of skills during the course of a student's required field experience.
"General hospital" means any hospital, validly licensed by the Department, which maintains and operates organized facilities and services for the diagnosis, treatment or care of persons suffering from acute illness, injury or deformity and in which all diagnoses, treatment and care are administered by or performed under the direction of persons who, in accordance with 45:9-6, are validly licensed to practice medicine and surgery by the New Jersey State Board of Medical Examiners.
"Helicopter" means a heavier-than-air aircraft that depends principally for its support in flight on the lift generated by one or more rotors.
"ITLS certification" or "certification in ITLS" means valid certification in International Trauma Life Support as issued by the American College of Emergency Physicians.
"Medical command" means the medical direction provided to ALS crewmembers by a medical command physician.
"Medical command physician" means a physician or a person validly licensed by another state's Board of Medical Examiners (or equivalent licensing agency) who provides medical direction to ALS crewmembers via radio, telephone or other direct means of communications. The criteria for medical command physicians differ for mobile intensive care units, specialty care transport units and aero-medical units. The specific criteria for each is set forth at 8:41-9.5, 8:41-10.5 and 8:41-11.5, respectively.
"Medical director" means the physician responsible for the medical oversight of the operations of a mobile intensive care program. The specific criteria required of a medical director are set forth at 8:41-9.4.
"Medical record" means any information and/or reports (including, but not limited to, patient care reports) that describe a person's physical condition and/or medical history.
"Mobile intensive care hospital" means a general hospital authorized by the Commissioner, by way of a certificate of need, to develop and maintain a mobile intensive care program for the purpose of providing advanced life support care to a specific population, geographic region or political subdivision.
"Mobile intensive care nurse" or "MICN" means a registered nurse who meets all of the criteria set forth at N.J.A.C. 8:41-9.9.
"Mobile intensive care program" means a program, operated by a mobile intensive care hospital, which is validly licensed by the Department to provide pre-hospital advanced life support cares by way of a specially equipped and staffed mobile intensive care unit. The mobile intensive care hospital shall be vested with the ultimate responsibility for the delivery of services and shall be held accountable for the actions of all of its crewmembers in the event that there are violations of any State or Federal licensing standards.
"Mobile intensive care unit" or "MICU" means a specialized emergency medical services vehicle that is validly licensed by the Department and operated in accordance with the standards set forth at N.J.A.C. 8:41.
"NREMT" means The National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians, which is a professional testing agency specializing in the development of evaluation instruments designed for utilization by various states in the certification and registration of emergency medical services professionals. The NREMT is headquartered at the Rocco V. Morando Building, 6610 Busch Boulevard, P.O. Box 29233, Columbus, OH 43229-0233.
"Neonatal" means the period of time from the moment of birth up to and including the 28th day following birth.
"Office of Emergency Medical Services" or "OEMS" means the Office of Emergency Medical Services in the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services, PO Box 360, Trenton, New Jersey, 08625. The telephone number for OEMS is (609) 633-7777.
"Official NREMT representative" means a person responsible for the administration of the NREMT-Paramedic Certification Examination. Official NREMT representatives are appointed by the Office of Emergency Medical Services and are trained by the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians, in accordance with the its standards and guidelines, to conduct all NREMT-Paramedic Certification Examination related activities.
"PALS certification" or "certification in PALS" means valid certification in Pediatric Advanced Life Support as issued by the American Heart Association.
"Patient" means any person who is ill or injured, living or deceased and with whom a crewmember has established physical or verbal contact.
"Patient care report" means and includes the written documentation completed each time a crewmember makes physical or verbal contact with a patient.
"Pediatric" means the period of time beginning with the 29th day following birth up to, but not including, a person's 13th birthday.
"PEPP-Advanced certification" or "certification in PEPP-Advanced" means valid certification in Pediatric Education for Prehospital Providers as issued by the American Academy of Pediatrics.
"PHTLS certification" or "certification in PHTLS" means valid certification in Pre-Hospital Trauma Life Support as issued by the National Association of EMTs.
"Physician" means a person who is validly licensed by the New Jersey State Board of Medical Examiners in accordance with the standards set forth at 45:9-6.
"Physician assistant" means a person who is validly licensed by the New Jersey State Board of Medical Examiners in accordance with the standards set forth at N.J.S.A. 45:9-27.1 3.
"Pre-hospital" means the period of time prior to the delivery of a patient to a physician or registered nurse at a general hospital or satellite emergency department.
"Program curriculum" means the Emergency Medical Technician-Paramedic: National Standard Curriculum (EMT-P) 1998 edition published by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration of the United States Department of Transportation, incorporated hereby by reference, as amended and supplemented. Copies may be obtained from The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 400 7th Street S.W., Washington, D.C. 20590 or by calling (888) 327-4236 or accessing the website at www.nhtsa.dot.gov/people/injury/ems.
"Refresher curriculum" means the Emergency Medical Technician-Paramedic: 2001 National Standard Curriculum Refresher Course edition published by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration of the United States Department of Transportation, incorporated herein by reference, as amended and supplemented. Copies may be obtained from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 400 7th Street S.W., Washington, D.C. 20590 or by calling (888) 327-4236 or accessing the website at www.nhtsa.dot.gov/people/injury/ems.
"Registered nurse" means a person who is validly licensed by the New Jersey State Board of Nursing in accordance with the standards set forth at 45:11-26.
"Remediation" means the formal process by which students who are experiencing difficulties following the lesson plan receive a formal review of any and all cognitive and psychomotor objectives associated with a specific module.
"Respiratory care practitioner" means a person who is validly licensed by the New Jersey State Board of Respiratory Care in accordance with the standards set forth at 45:14E-10.
"Revocation" or "revoked" means the permanent voiding, withdrawal and/or cancellation of a license or certification.
"Satellite emergency department" means a facility that is owned and operated by a general hospital that provides emergency care and treatment.
"Specialty care transport unit" or "SCTU" means a specialized transport medical service vehicle that is validly licensed by the Department and operated in accordance with the standards set forth at N.J.A.C. 8:41.
"Standing orders" means specific treatment protocols, authorized by the Commissioner, that occur prior to any communications with the medical command physician.
"Valid" or "validly" means original (not a photo copy), current, up-to-date, not expired, in effect and/or not past the renewal date required by the issuer.
