Current through Register Vol. 35, No. 18, September 24, 2024
The most recent standards for air ambulance services
published by the CAMTS are incorporated by reference, with the written
permission of CAMTS. Air ambulance services shall meet the standards outlined
in the CAMTS accreditation standards, with following
exceptions:
A. Rotor Wing
Scene Response Protocol (Rotor Wing): All rotor wing air ambulance services
certified to operate in the state of New Mexico shall adhere to the response
and transportation policy outlined below. Failure to adhere to the response
protocol policy may be investigated by the department and may result in
disciplinary action against the service(s) involved in the non-compliance. The
department recognizes that air ambulance services may need to occasionally
deviate from this policy in the best interest of patient care.
(1) Response: When a request from a EMS
provider, law enforcement officer, or the incident commander for a rotor wing
air ambulance is received by telephone or radio at a dispatch center to respond
to a scene, the dispatcher or air ambulance service shall ensure that the
closest available service shall respond. If another rotor wing service is
closer to the scene and their aircraft is available to respond, the request
shall be transferred and communicated to that service, without delay.
(2) Transportation: All patients shall be
transported by the rotor wing air ambulance service to the closest appropriate
facility. For trauma patients, the regional or local trauma transportation
protocols/guidelines should guide the destination decision. Regional or EMS
system transportation protocols/guidelines shall also guide transportation
decisions.
B.
Inter-facility Transportation Protocol (Rotor Wing and Fixed Wing): The
department follows the federal Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act
(EMTALA) for inter-facility transfers.
(1) For
inter-facility transfers, it is the responsibility of the physician at the
sending facility to arrange an "appropriate transfer" under the EMTALA
requirements. The EMTALA requirements include as part of arranging an
"appropriate transfer" that the sending physician secure an appropriate method
of transportation that is consistent with the patient's needs. (It is
recommended that the sending physician and the receiving physician consult when
making the decision about the appropriate method of transportation.)
(2) Physicians arranging inter-facility
transfers must remain current on available EMS transportation options within
their area. In New Mexico, the following options are available in many
geographical areas; Regular ground ambulance (BLS and ALS), critical care
ground ambulance, fixed wing air ambulances (BLS, ALS, and critical care), and
rotor wing air ambulances (critical care).
C. Specific Exceptions to the CAMTS
Accreditation Standards.
(1) Throughout the
standards, the words "should be" means "shall" for the purpose of certification
in New Mexico.
(2) In the far right
hand column, "RW" applies to "rotor wing" and "FW" applies to "fixed wing".
Both "RW" and "FW" apply for certification of air ambulance services in New
Mexico.
(3) In the far right hand
column, "G" refers to "ground transport" and "ME" refers to "medical escort".
These do not apply for air ambulance certification in New Mexico.
(4) In section 01.10.02, the minimum "general
liability insurance" required for rotor wing services is 50 million dollars in
New Mexico.
(5) In section
01.10.01, if an accredited program refers a flight to another service, it shall
follow the rotor wing scene response protocol and the inter-facility
transportation protocol as found in section 7.27.5.16 NMAC.
(6) In section 01.12.00, all air ambulance
services shall report aviation incidents and accidents to the CONCERN network
and the bureau, as well as all appropriate other government agencies. See the
CAMTS standards glossary for a definition of incident and accident. The CONCERN
network provides information regarding accidents and incidents in the air
medical and critical care transport community. This information is provided by
the transport service involved and then distributed via email by the CONCERN
network. The purpose of the CONCERN network is to increase awareness of safety
hazards in the medical transport community. It is accessible via the world wide
web at
http://www.concern-network.org.
(7) In section 01.12.00, air ambulance
services shall report all aviation incidents and accidents to the CONCERN
network and the bureau, in addition to all other appropriate government
agencies required by law.
(8) In
section 02.03.00, a clinical care supervisor shall be an EMT-P or higher level
of licensure.
(9) In section
02.04.01, on site shifts scheduled for greater than twenty-four hours are
discouraged.
