§ 23-27-02 — Definitions

For the purpose of this chapter, unless the context otherwise requires:
1. "Department" means the department of health and human services.
2. "Emergency medical services" means the prehospital medical stabilization or
transportation, including interfacility transportation, of an individual who is sick, injured,
wounded, or otherwise incapacitated or helpless, or in a real or perceived acute
medical condition, by a person that holds oneself out to the public as being in that
service or that regularly provides that service. The term includes:
a. Assessing, stabilizing, and treating life-threatening and non-life-threatening
medical conditions; or
b. Transporting a patient who is in a real or perceived acute medical condition to a
hospital emergency room or other appropriate medical destination.
3. "Emergency medical services operation" means an entity licensed to offer and provide
emergency medical services by emergency medical services personnel with physician
oversight. The term includes basic life support ambulance services, advanced life

support ambulance services, air ambulance services, and quick response unit
services.
4. "Emergency medical services personnel" means individuals who provide emergency
medical services for emergency medical services operations. The term includes
emergency medical services professionals, drivers, and department-certified
emergency medical services providers, such as cardiopulmonary resuscitation drivers
and first responders.
5. "Emergency medical services professional" means an individual licensed by the
department under this chapter.
6. "Substation ambulance services" means an ambulance station that has its own service
area designated by the department and is not individually licensed as an emergency
medical services operation.