(a) The Office of Emergency Medical Services is hereby created. The Office shall be responsible for ensuring the effective coordination and evaluation of the emergency medical services system in Delaware which includes providing assistance and advice for activities related toward the planning, development, improvement and expansion of emergency medical services.
(b) The Office of Emergency Medical Services shall be a state agency within the Division of Public Health, Department of Health and Social Services. The Office of Emergency Medical Services shall report directly to and be responsible to the Director of the Division of Public Health, which is consistent with the health plan for Delaware.
(c) As used in this subchapter, the term “Office” shall refer to the State Office of Emergency Medical Services. In the performance of the functions mandated by this legislation which relate to the planning and evaluation of the emergency medical services system in Delaware, the Office of Emergency Medical Services shall coordinate with the Bureau of Health Planning and Resources Development for technical assistance in emergency medical services planning activities. Specifically, the Bureau of Health Planning and Resources Development shall have the primary responsibility for all data analysis related to the emergency medical services system. This coordination should minimize duplication of effort between the 2 agencies and allow for the effective use of available staff resources within the Department of Health and Social Services.
(d) Except for those activities and responsibilities for basic life support, which are under the jurisdiction of the State Fire Prevention Commission, the Office of Emergency Medical Services shall have jurisdiction over the development, implementation and maintenance of a Statewide Trauma System.
(e) A memorandum of agreement shall be established between the Office of Emergency Medical Services of the Division of Public Health and the State Fire Prevention Commission to foster inclusion and coordination of Basic Life Support Services within the Statewide Trauma System.
(f) The Director of Public Health shall establish a standing Trauma System Committee and ad hoc committees as deemed appropriate to assist in oversight of the Inclusive Statewide Trauma Care System. The standing Trauma System Committee shall convene at least quarterly. Membership on the standing Trauma System Committee will include, but not be limited to, a representative of each of the following constituencies to be selected from the 3 counties within the State:
(1) Trauma rehabilitation professionals
(2) Practicing trauma surgeons
(3) Practicing emergency department physicians
(4) The Association of Delaware Hospitals
(5) Advanced Life Support prehospital providers
(6) Basic Life Support prehospital providers
(7) The State Fire School
(8) Practicing trauma subspecialty physicians
(9) Practicing pediatric surgeons or pediatricians
(10) Practicing registered nurses involved in trauma patient care
(11) Emergency medical dispatchers
(12) Hospital administration
(13) The Delaware state police aviation section
(14) A representative from the State Fire Prevention Commission.
(g) The Trauma System Committee shall be an advisory group to the Director of Public Health on the following issues:
(1) Rules governing the operation of Delaware’s Inclusive Statewide Trauma Care System, which will be based upon national references such as the American College of Surgeons’ Resources for Optimal Care of the Trauma Patient: 1993.
(2) Recommendations for corrective action based on the reviews of the following:
a. Statewide trauma care system operations, including the monitoring for adherence to adopted policies, procedures, protocols and standards, the availability of appropriate resources and the periodic review of trauma hospital participation (designation) criteria.
b. The delivery of emergency medical and hospital services by trauma care service providers to trauma patients.
(3) Recommendation for modifications of the policies, procedures and protocols of trauma care as a result of system-wide review.
(h) Except for those activities and responsibilities for basic life support, which is under the jurisdiction of the State Fire Prevention Commission, the Office of Emergency Medical Services shall have jurisdiction over the development, implementation and maintenance of a statewide stroke system.
(i) A memorandum of agreement shall be established between the Office of Emergency Medical Services of the Division of Public Health and the State Fire Prevention Commission to foster inclusion and coordination of Basic Life Support Services within the Statewide Stroke System.
(j) The Director of Public Health shall establish and appoint a standing Stroke System Committee and ad hoc committees as deemed appropriate to assist in oversight of the inclusive statewide stroke care system. The standing Stroke System Committee shall convene at least quarterly. Membership on the standing Stroke System Committee will include, but not be limited to, a representative of each of the following constituencies to be selected from the 3 counties within the State and with best efforts to achieve a balance in membership from each county:
(1) Stroke rehabilitation professionals, including but not limited to, physical therapists, occupational therapists, and speech language pathologists;
(2) Practicing stroke neurologists;
(3) Practicing Emergency Department physicians;
(4) The Delaware Healthcare Association;
(5) Advanced life support prehospital providers;
(6) Basic life support prehospital providers;
(7) The State Fire School;
(8) Practicing neurosurgeons;
(9) Practicing neurointerventional radiologists;
(10) Practicing registered nurses involved in stroke patient care;
(11) Emergency medical dispatchers;
(12) Hospital administration or a designee from each acute health-care facility which holds or intends to seek stroke center designation under this title;
(13) The Delaware State Police Aviation Section; and
(14) A representative from the State Fire Prevention Commission.
(k) The Stroke System Committee shall be an advisory group to the Director of Public Health on the following issues:
(1) Recommendations based on Delaware stroke data as determined by the Director of Public Health, and after review of Delaware data as analyzed by the Stroke System Committee, and input from the Committee, as to whether outcomes for Delaware patients will be improved by the adoption of a statewide stroke system. Such recommendations shall be made to the Director of Public Health no later than December 30, 2016. The Director of Public Health shall report the basis for the Directors’ decision to the Chairs of the Health and Social Services Committees of the House and Senate.
(2) Rules governing the operation of Delaware’s inclusive statewide stroke care system, which will be based upon national references and data based guidelines, as determined by the Director of Public Health with the advice of the Stroke System Committee.
(3) Recommendations for corrective action based on the reviews of the following:
a. Statewide stroke care system operations, including the monitoring for adherence to adopted policies, procedures, protocols and standards, the availability of appropriate resources and the periodic review of stroke hospital and freestanding emergency department participation (designation) criteria.
b. The delivery of emergency medical and hospital services by stroke care service providers to stroke patients.
(4) Recommendation for modifications of the policies, procedures and protocols of stroke care as a result of system-wide review.
(l) Except for those activities and responsibilities for basic life support, which are under the jurisdiction of the State Fire Prevention Commission, the Office of Emergency Medical Services has jurisdiction over the development, implementation, and maintenance of the overdose system of care created under § 9710 of this title.
(m) A memorandum of agreement must be established between the Office of Emergency Medical Services of the Division of Public Health and the State Fire Prevention Commission to foster inclusion and coordination of Basic Life Support Services within the Statewide overdose system of care created under § 9710 of this title.