New changes and updates have been applied to 19 CSR 30-40.331 Application and Accreditation or Certification Requirements for Training Entities that Conduct Training for First Responders, Emergency Medical Dispatchers, Emergency Medical Technicians-Basic, Emergency Medical Technicians- Intermediate and Emergency Medical Technicians-Paramedic.

 

Numerous people from across the state have been working with the Bureau of EMS for the past two years to review and revise regulations that apply to the entities that provide emergency medical technician training.  Significant items addressed in the regulation update are new requirements for mandatory information for students, faculty education requirements and pass rates requirements.

Although students spend many hours studying, in class and in clinical settings, they do not always understand the system that exists to assure emergency medical services in Missouri meets high standards. As an example, despite the fact that Missouri has been a National Registry state for ten years, many students still do not understand what that means. 

 

In a nutshell it means that in order to obtain a Missouri EMT, EMT-I or EMT-P license the candidate must take and pass a National Registry written test as well as National Registry approved skills test.  Once those two requirements are met, the National Registry office issues the candidate a certificate and a card affirming successful completion.  When a student has the National Registry documents, an application for licensure, all required certifications and a criminal background check in place, the request for Missouri licensure can be processed.  The EMT-I candidate must also submit proof of EMT-B licensure; the EMT-P candidate must submit proof of EMT-B or EMT-I licensure.

The new regulation requires the training entities to discuss the process in detail with the students so they have a better understanding of the requirements.  The new regulations also require training entities to incorporate the Missouri statues and regulations referencing patient care and licensure issues into the students’ education.  Many students today do not clearly recognize when state statues or regulations are applicable.

 

The new requirements for all newly employed paramedic instructors or training faculty state that, beginning in 2012, faculty must have 60 hours in college credits from an accredited post-secondary education institution, before they can begin teaching.  No specific field of study is required when obtaining the college credits but it does put new instructors on par with substitute teachers in the state of Missouri.

Previous regulations stated that pass rates for paramedic examinations were grounds for review by the Bureau.  The new regulations require training entities to have pass rates that are at or above the national pass rate as documented by the National Registry of EMT’s. The annual pass rate for a program will be based on a calendar year (January 1 – December 31).

 

Should the pass rate fall below the national rate, programs will be required to provide the Bureau of EMS with a report to identify the contributing factors for the low pass rate and then provide a plan to resolve this.  If a pass rate goes below the national pass rate two years in a row, program managers will be required to appear before BEMS and present an analysis of measures taken the first year, problems identified and a plan for correction.  The training entity shall continue to be monitored until it has two consecutive years of pass rates on the first attempt at the national pass rate. 

An important note is that the Bureau does not consider lower pass rates to be grounds for punitive action, just a review of processes to show how programs are working to improve. It’s also seen as an opportunity for a program to identify why a pass rate is down as there are many reasons why this may occur. 

Once again, this requirement affects only training entities that provide initial education and training for the EMT-B, EMT-I or EMT-P.