txmedic1752

While this is now an older topic, at the time this was done, there were several things going on with rules. For a while BLS only providers didn't have to have a medical director, this has changed. You don't have to be certified to take vitals, bandage or splint, as this is taught in a first class similar to the first responder course that was given by Red Cross. If you are providing treatment then you must be licensed under rule 157.11 which is the EMS provider rule. If you are certified and providing care for the track, this would mean the entire track, so if you had a cardiac and not the right equipment even at the BLS level, you are responsible. When you say "non-emergency" are you talking about "gurney cars/stretcher vans"? All EMS providers in Texas Emergency and non-emergency providers have ALSO had to be licensed by TDH, now DSHS. If you only did stand-bys and used an ambulance, you had to be a licensed provider. If you did non-emergency from hospital to nursing home and used an ambulance, you had to be licensed. Now even stretcher vans are semi-regulated by DSHS. FRO's or First Responders Organizations are the only ones that don't have to be licensed, nor EMS certified. You can provide BLS level of care as a FRO and not be licensed. Most are licensed under the EMS provider they first respond for as either BLS or ALS, and they must have a medical director and protocols. I have to disagree with the flight medic from Houston, 2 ECA's, EMT's, EMT-I or EMTP can provide basic first aid, but anything advanced is practicing medicine without a license or without medical control/supervison for a physician with standing protocols. Under 157.11, you were working on an unlicensed ambulance, TDH/DSHS can view the rules in many ways. I work for a special event medical provider and we are a licensed EMS provider with protocols, medical director, etc just like any Texas EMS provider. BLS provider are now required to have a medical director.