As used in the Emergency Medical Services Act:

A. "academy" means an emergency medical services training program administered through the department of emergency medicine of the university of New Mexico school of medicine;

B. "advance directive" means a written instruction, such as a living will, durable power of attorney for health care or emergency medical services do not resuscitate form recognizable under state law and relating to the provision of health care when an individual is incapacitated;

C. "air ambulance service" means any governmental or private service that provides air transportation specifically designed to accommodate the medical needs of a person who is ill, injured or otherwise mentally or physically incapacitated and who requires in-flight medical supervision;

D. "approved emergency medical services training program" means an emergency medical services training program that is sponsored by a post-secondary educational institution, accredited by a national educational accrediting organization for emergency medical services or active in the accreditation process, and is approved by the joint organization on education committee and participates in the joint organization on education committee;

E. "bureau" means the injury prevention and emergency medical services bureau of the public health division of the department;

F. "certified emergency medical service" means an organization that meets minimum standards to provide emergency services and is approved by the bureau, including emergency medical dispatch agencies, pre-hospital or interfacility care services and special event services organized to provide emergency medical services;

G. "critical incident stress management program" means a program of preventive education and crisis intervention intended to reduce the negative effects of critical stress on emergency responders;

H. "department" means the department of health;

I. "emergency medical dispatch" means an advanced form of dispatch communications used to improve emergency medical services response to medical and traumatic emergencies that utilizes specially trained emergency medical dispatchers, in accordance with an emergency medical dispatch priority reference system and the department-approved scopes of practice;

J. "emergency medical dispatcher" means a person who is trained and licensed pursuant to Subsection F of Section 24-10B-4 NMSA 1978 to receive calls for emergency medical assistance, provide pre-arrival medical instructions, dispatch emergency medical assistance and coordinate its response;

K. "emergency medical services" means the services rendered by providers in response to an individual's need for immediate medical care to prevent loss of life or aggravation of physical or psychological illness or injury;

L. "emergency medical services first responder" means a person who is licensed by the department and who functions within the emergency medical services system to provide initial emergency aid;

M. "emergency medical services system" means a coordinated system of health care delivery that responds to the needs of the sick and injured and includes emergency medical services;

N. "emergency medical technician" means a provider who has been licensed by the department to provide patient care;

O. "health care facility" means a hospital, clinic or other entity licensed or approved by the department;

P. "injury prevention" means to promote and implement efforts to reduce the risk and severity of intentional and unintentional injuries;

Q. "medical direction" means guidance or supervision provided by a physician to a provider or emergency medical services system and that may include authority over and responsibility for emergency medical dispatch, direct patient care and transport of patients, arrangements for medical control and all other aspects of patient care delivered by a provider;

R. "paramedic" means a provider licensed at that level by the department to provide patient care;

S. "physician" means a doctor of medicine or doctor of osteopathy who is licensed or otherwise authorized to practice medicine or osteopathic medicine in New Mexico;

T. "protocol" means a predetermined, written medical care plan and includes standing orders;

U. "provider" means a person who has been licensed by the department to provide patient care pursuant to the Emergency Medical Services Act;

V. "regional office" means an emergency medical services planning and development agency formally recognized and supported by the bureau;

W. "secretary" means the secretary of health;

X. "special skills" means a set of procedures or therapies that are beyond the scope of practice of a given level of licensure and that have been approved by the medical direction committee for use by a specified provider; and

Y. "state emergency medical services medical director" means a physician designated by the department to provide overall medical direction to the statewide emergency medical services system, whose duties include serving as a liaison to the medical community and chairing the medical direction committee.

History: 1978 Comp., § 24-10B-3, enacted by Laws 1993, ch. 161, § 2; 2003, ch. 243, § 2.

Repeals and reenactments. — Laws 1993, ch. 161, § 2 repealed 24-10B-3 NMSA 1978, as enacted by Laws 1983, ch. 190, § 3, and enacted a new section, effective June 18, 1993. For provisions of former section, see the 1992 NMSA 1978 on NMOneSource.com.

The 2003 amendment, effective July 1, 2003, rewrote the section.