R426-10-2600. Air Ambulance Service Medical Director Qualifications

  (1) A licensed air ambulance provider's medical director who oversees the practice of the emergency medical services during patient transport shall be familiar with Utah state medical standards practices, and licensing requirements.

  (2) A licensed air ambulance provider's medical director shall be a Utah licensed physician in good standing to supervise the medical care provided in an air medical environment.

  (3) The medical director shall also:

  (a) be board certified or board-eligible in EMS, emergency medicine, or other appropriate critical care specialty that services the patient population involved;

  (b) have experience in the care of patients consistent with the licensing and mission profile of the air ambulance provider's service;

  (c) designate other medical physician specialists for direction outside medical director's area of practice as appropriate to the licensed air ambulance provider's service mission profile;

  (d) have access to medical specialists for consultation regarding patients whose illness and care needs are outside the medical director's area of practice;

  (e) have a current DEA registration; and

  (f) have current credentials achieved through active participation in patient care and continuing medical education activities appropriate for the role of a licensed air ambulance provider's medical director.

  (4) The licensed air ambulance provider's medical director shall have familiarity in the following areas:

  (a) care of patients in the air medical environment, including the impact of altitude and other patient stressors, in-flight assessment and care, monitoring capabilities, and limitations of the flight environment;

  (b) hazardous materials recognition and response;

  (c) management of disaster and mass casualty events;

  (d) infection control and prevention;

  (e) advanced resuscitation and care of adult, pediatric and neonatal patients with both traumatic and non-traumatic diagnoses;

  (f) quality improvement theories and applications;

  (g) principles of adult learning;

  (h) capabilities and limitations of care in air ambulance;

  (i) applicable federal, state, and local law, rules and protocols related to air ambulance providers and state trauma rule guidelines;

  (j) air ambulance dispatch and communications; and

  (k) ethical and legal issues related to air medical transport.

  (5) The licensed air ambulance provider's medical director roles and responsibilities shall include:

  (a) oversight of medical care provided by the air medical service provider;

  (b) ensure competency and currency of all medical personnel;

  (c) active engagement in the evaluation credentialing, initial training, and continuing education of all personnel who provide patient care;

  (d) development and approval of written patient care guidelines, policies and protocols, including, but not limited to, those addressing the adverse impact of altitude on patient physiology and stressors of transport; and

  (e) active engagement in quality management, utilization review, and safety reviews.