New Mexico

Kyle Thornton, Chief, EMS Bureau
Emergency Medical Systems Bureau
Epidemiology and Response Division
New Mexico Department of Health
1301 Siler Rd. Bldg. F
Santa Fe, NM 87507
505/476-8200, Fax 505/476-8201
www.nmems.org
KyleL.Thornton@state.nm.us

EMS First Responder: Skills include: Basic life support skills and techniques including: basic airway management including use of basic airway adjunctive equipment and positive-pressure oxygen delivery inhalation devices, suctioning, CPR, obstructed airway management, bleeding control using direct pressure, spinal immobilization and splinting, emergency childbirth (normal presentation), scene assessment, scene safety and triage, and use of the statewide EMS communications system. Under medical control, insertion of laryngeal mask airway, IM drug administration by auto-injection device, IM auto-injection of agents for treatment of chemical and/or nerve agent exposure including atropine and pralidoxime, administration of oral glucose, oxygen and semi-automatic defibrillation. Included in the EMS First Responder scope of practice are skills for wilderness-trained first responders that include epinephrine injection, minor wound care, clearance of the cervical spine, termination of futile CPR, and simple dislocation reductions. To use these skills, an individual must be functioning under medical direction. Hours of training: 44 hours minimum. Licensure requirements: At the end of training, candidates must pass a state-approved written examination and receive a course-completion certificate showing successful completion of the course and examination. The candidate must submit application, course-completion certificate, CPR card and fee to state for Licensure. License renewal requirements: Every 27 months—includes 16-hour state-approved refresher course, current CPR certification and 8 contact hours of state-approved continuing education, all of which must be BLS medical skills and information.

EMD: Medical direction is required for all items in the EMD scope of practice. The following allowable skills may be performed by EMD’s who are licensed by the EMS Bureau and functioning with a New Mexico Emergency Medical Dispatch Agency utilizing protocols and any EMD priority reference system approved by the EMS Bureau and service Medical Director: Process calls for medical assistance in a standardized manner, eliciting required information for evaluating, advising, and treating sick or injured individuals, and dispatching an appropriate EMS response. Provide pre-arrival instructions to the patient through the caller when possible and appropriate to do so while functioning in compliance with an Emergency Medical Dispatch Priority Reference System (EMDPRS). Licensure requirements: Licensure as an emergency medical dispatcher in New Mexico is mandatory for all persons who provide pre-arrival medical instructions to the emergency and nonemergency caller. Successfully complete an EMD training course, which has been approved by the bureau, that meets or exceeds the U.S. department of transportation (USDOT) standards for EMD, within the previous twelve (12) months. License renewal requirements: course completion certificates or verification showing a minimum of twenty-four(24) contact hours of continuing education activity; of which at least twelve (12) hours shall be medical subjects/skills of bureau approved continuing education activity and twelve (12) hours of dispatch related subjects/skills.

EMD-I: An EMD-instructor shall be a licensed EMT-basic, or higher level of licensure; or, if physically unable to be licensed as an EMT-basic, provide verification of successful course completion from an EMT-B training program, be currently licensed as an EMD and have successfully completed an EMD-instructor training course from an EMD program which is approved by the bureau. Renewal of a licensed EMD-instructor is required within each licensure period. Documentation must show that all renewal requirements have been completed before the December 31 that occurs prior to expiration of licensure; verification from a bureau approved EMD training program showing that the EMD instructor is current and in good standing with the approved EMD training program; submit documentation showing completion of all EMD continuing education renewal requirements; submit a copy of current licensure at the EMT-B or higher level;