§ 22-18-1 — Definitions

For the purposes of this article, the following terms have the meanings respectively ascribed to them by this section:
(1) ADVANCED EMERGENCY MEDICAL TECHNICIAN. Any individual who is an emergency medical services personnel, is 18 years of age or older, and who satisfies all of the following:
a. Has successfully completed the advanced emergency medical technician course of instruction, or its equivalent, as approved by the board.
b. Has passed the state Advanced EMT examination, as well as having met the requirements for becoming a licensed emergency medical technician.
c. Has been granted a license by the board.
(2) ADVANCED LIFE SUPPORT (ALS). The treatment of potentially life-threatening medical emergencies through the use of invasive medical techniques specified as advanced life support techniques by the board, which ordinarily would be performed or provided by licensed physicians, but which may be performed by emergency medical service personnel during emergencies under constraints specified by rule of the board.
(3) AIR AMBULANCE. An aircraft that is intended to be used for and is maintained or operated for transportation to a medical care facility of persons who are sick or injured. For the purposes of this chapter, fixed-wing aircraft that do not conduct scene flights shall not be considered air ambulances.
(4) BASIC LIFE SUPPORT (BLS). Prehospital care involving non-invasive life support measures as specified by the board.
(5) BOARD or BOARD OF HEALTH. The State Board of Health.
(6) COMMUNITY PARAMEDIC. An individual who is an emergency medical services personnel, is 18 years of age or older, and who satisfies all of the following:
a. Is currently licensed as a paramedic.
b. Has at least two years of full-time service as a paramedic.
c. Has successfully completed a community paramedic training program and obtained a postsecondary or equivalent award from a paramedic course of instruction approved by the board.
d. Has passed the state community paramedic examination and has met the requirements for becoming a licensed community paramedic.
e. Has been granted a license by the board.
(7) COMMUNITY PARAMEDICINE PROGRAM. The provision of episodic care, patient evaluation, advice, and treatment directed at preventing or improving a particular medical condition, within the scope of practice of the emergency medical services personnel.
(8) DEFINITIVE CARE FACILITY. A facility that has the capability to render care to conclusively manage a patient’s current medical condition. The term includes, but is not limited to, urgent care facilities, family practice facilities, doctor’s offices, and emergency departments.
(9) DEPARTMENT. The Alabama Department of Public Health.
(10) EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES (EMS). A system of coordinated medical assistance and care provided by emergency medical services personnel, including:
a. The transportation and medical care provided to sick or injured individuals before arrival at a definitive care facility.
b. Continuation of care within a definitive care facility subject to the approval from that facility.
c. Integrated medical care with the oversight of a medical director.
(11) EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES PERSONNEL (EMSP). The collective term used to refer to all recognized National Highway Traffic Safety Administration levels of personnel licensed by the board, who have met all primary and renewal educational requirements, and who provide emergency or non-emergency medical services within the level of their scope of practice and in accordance with the applicable EMS Patient Care Protocols.
(12) EMERGENCY MEDICAL TECHNICIAN (EMT). An individual who is an emergency medical services personnel, is 18 years of age or older, and who satisfies all of the following:
a. Has successfully completed the basic emergency medical technician course of instruction, or its equivalent, as approved by the board.
b. Has passed the state EMT examination.
c. Has been granted a license by the board.
(13) EMERGENCY MEDICAL TECHNICIAN-INTERMEDIATE. An individual who is an emergency medical services personnel, is 18 years of age or older, and who, prior to December 31, 2002, satisfied all of the following:
a. Successfully completed the intermediate emergency medical technician course of instruction, or its equivalent, as approved by the board.
b. Passed the state EMT Intermediate examination and has met the requirements for becoming a licensed emergency medical technician.
c. Was granted a license by the board.
(14) GROUND AMBULANCE. A motor vehicle that is intended to be used for and is maintained or operated for transportation to a medical care facility of individuals who are sick or injured.
(15) NON-TRANSPORT VEHICLE. A vehicle operated with the intent to provide BLS or ALS stabilization on scene, but not intended to transport a patient to a medical care facility.
(16) PARAMEDIC. Any individual who is an emergency medical services personnel, is 18 years of age or older, and who has successfully completed the paramedic course of instruction, or its equivalent, as approved by the board, and passed the state paramedic examination, and who has been granted a license by the board. The board may not require a college degree for licensure as a community paramedic.
(17) PATIENT. An individual who receives or requests medical care, or for whom medical care is requested, because the individual is sick or injured.
(18) PHYSICIAN. An individual licensed to practice medicine or osteopathy by the Medical Licensure Commission of Alabama.
(19) PROGRAM MEDICAL DIRECTOR. A physician who has completed the approved EMS Medical Director course and provides medical direction and oversight to emergency medical services personnel.
(20) PROVIDER SERVICE. An organization, whether public or private, which provides transport or non-transport emergency medical services.
(21) SCENE FLIGHT. The flight of an air ambulance to the physical location of a sick or injured individual.
(22) TRANSPORT VEHICLE. An air or ground ambulance.

Legislative History

(Acts 1971, No. 1590, p. 2717, §1; Acts 1995, No. 95-276, p. 488, §1; Act 2010-584, p. 1304, §1; Act 2021-303, §1; Act 2023-311, §1.)