West Virginia Code 16-4C-18 – Authority of emergency medical service personnel in charge of emergency medical services
When any department, agency or entity which provides emergency medical services under the authority of this article is responding to, operating at or returning from an emergency medical service, any emergency medical service personnel serving in the capacity of an emergency medical service line officer in charge, shall control and direct the providing of emergency medical services. The emergency medical service personnel serving in the capacity of an emergency medical service line officer shall determine whether a patient shall be transported from the emergency scene, determine what care shall be rendered prior to the transport, determine the appropriate facility to which the patient shall be transported, and otherwise fully direct and control the providing of emergency medical services and patient care under the direction of medical command.
Terms Used In West Virginia Code 16-4C-18
- Department: means the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources: Provided, That beginning January 1, 2024, as used in this chapter, "department" and "Department of Health and Human Resources" means the Department of Health. See West Virginia Code 16-1-2
- Emergency medical service personnel: means any person certified by the commissioner to provide emergency medical services as set forth by legislative rule. See West Virginia Code 16-4C-3
- Emergency Medical Services: means all services which are set forth in Public Law 93-154 "The Emergency Medical Services Systems Act of 1973" and those included in and made a part of the emergency medical services plan of the Department of Health and Human Resources inclusive of, but not limited to, responding to the medical needs of an individual to prevent the loss of life or aggravation of illness or injury. See West Virginia Code 16-4C-3
- Line officer: means the emergency medical service personnel, present at the scene of an accident, injury or illness, who has taken the responsibility for patient care. See West Virginia Code 16-4C-3
- Medical command: means the issuing of orders by a physician from a medical facility to emergency medical service personnel for the purpose of providing appropriate patient care. See West Virginia Code 16-4C-3
- Patient: means any person who is a recipient of the services provided by emergency medical services. See West Virginia Code 16-4C-3
Nothing included in this section may be construed to restrict or interfere with the authority of a fire officer in charge to supervise or direct those fire department personnel under his or her command or to restrict any person from entering a hazardous area for which the fire officer has assumed the responsibility.