Pennsylvania

Joseph Schmider, Director
Bureau of Emergency Medical Services
Pennsylvania Department of Health
Room 606, Health & Welfare Building
Harrisburg, PA 17120
717/787-8740, Fax 717/772-0910
www.health.state.pa.us
e-mail: paemsoffice@state.pa.us

First Responder: In fall 2002, the state implemented a revised First Responder curriculum that exceeds the 1995 First Responder NSC. Skills include: Those identified in the 1995 DOT First Responder National Standard Curriculum, plus oxygen administration and application of cervical collars, long board and traction splint. Hours of training: 44–50. Certification requirements: Complete training program and pass practical skills and written examinations. Recertification requirements: Retest practical skills and written exam every three years, or 16 hours of continuing education (min. eight in medical/trauma content) every three years.

EMT-Basic: Skills include: Those skills identified in the 1995 EMT-Basic National Standard Curriculum. Hours of training: 123–126, plus examinations. Certification requirements: Complete training program and successfully pass practical skills and written examinations. Recertification requirements: Retest practical skills and written examinations every three years, or complete 24 hours of CE credits (min. 12 in medical/trauma content) every three years.

EMT-Paramedic: Skills include: Those skills identified in the 1998 National Standard Curriculum for EMT-Paramedic, with several exceptions. Hours of training: Each training institute establishes course and clinical training hours required to achieve student competency. Certification requirements: Complete an application, possess current EMT certification, 18 or older, successfully complete DOH-approved training course and practical and written examinations. Recertification requirements: Permanently certified with requirement to have medical command authorization. To be eligible for authorization, individuals must annually complete 18 hours of CE credits (min. nine in the medical/trauma area).

Responsible certification agency: Emergency Medical Services Bureau, PA Department of Health. EMS courses are offered through 16 regional EMS councils at training institutes approved by the DOH.

Reciprocity: Generally, DOH will consider equivalent qualifications when all of the following are met: 1) Completion of an application form; 2) Successful completion of a training course that meets or exceeds standards established by the DOH; and 3) Successful completion of practical skills and written examinations that meet or exceed standards established by the DOH. First responders and EMTs must be 16 or older; EMT-Ps must be 18 or older.

Salary ranges: N/A.

Numbers of EMS personnel: First Responders, 5,065; EMTs, 33,970; EMT-Paramedics, 11,723; prehospital RNs, 1,681; medical command physicians, 1,640.

Numbers of EMS services: Quick response services, 502; BLS services, 603; ALS services, 387; air ambulance services, 14.

Number of requests for emergency medical service in the most recent available 12-month period: 1.8 million patient-care reports were filed during calendar year 2008.

Statewide uniform ambulance reporting form: Yes.

Description of statewide data-gathering system: Ambulance services are required to file a completed patient care report (PCR) with the hospital within 24 hours of a patient being taken to an emergency department. Selected data from the PCR is filed electronically, or a paper copy of the PCR is filed on a monthly basis with the regional EMS council. Regional councils compile data for their respective areas and submit monthly reports electronically or on disk to the state EMS office. Regional data files are then merged for a statewide database. Over 1.8 million PCRs are annually aggregated.

Federal/government funding: N/A.

State funds allocated to run state EMS office: $1.02 million in state funds appropriated for state FY 2004–5. An additional $13 million in EMS operating funds was appropriated for regional/provider support.