Update from Steve Powles - April 13, 2007

Statutes about EMS dispatches (both  helicopters and ground ambulances) or requesting emergency medical services and  the response of appropriate resources to the appropriate location  

This info is from the AZ legislature  site


Under Arizona Revised  Statutes Title 36 Public Health and Safety  

36-2201         Definitions Line:

        This Statute would apply to any logging  recorder in a dispatch center that records medical patches:  

Line:        21.  "Medical record" means any patient record including clinical records,  prehospital care records, medical reports, laboratory reports and statements,  any file, film, record or report or         oral statements  relating to diagnostic findings, treatment or outcome of patients, whether  written or recorded, and any information from which a patient or the patient's  family might be         identified.


        DHS sets the  standard for pre-arrival instruction for agencies that receive 911 calls, either  primary or secondary answering points.

        This language would  include any dispatch center with or without 911 capabilities
        Where a game and fish officer requests a helicopter because he found someone hurt on the side of a  trail
         and a vehicle could not get there
 
         36-2204        Medical control  

Line:         9. Standards for emergency medical  dispatcher training, including prearrival instructions. For the purposes of this  paragraph, "emergency medical dispatch" means the receipt of calls requesting  emergency medical services and the response of appropriate resources to the  appropriate location.


If your pre-arrival instruction are approved by DHS standards for  your 911 answering point. Your center has additional liability  protection.


36-2206         Liability for emergency  instructions


        B. Any  emergency medical services or health care provider who in good faith provides  prearrival instructions following the minimum standards established by the state  pursuant to section 36-2204, paragraph 9 is not liable for any civil damages as  a result of issuing these instructions.



The requirement for prearrival instructions  for 911 call takers is again defined


36-2213        Regulation of  air ambulance services:


The Director shall adopt rules to establish minimum standards for the  operation of air ambulance services that are necessary to assure the public  health and safety. The Director may use the current standards adopted by the  commission on accreditation of air medical services. Each rule shall reference  the specific authority from this chapter under which the rule was formulated.  The rules shall provide for the department to do the following:  


Line:         3. Establish standards for emergency medical  dispatch training, including prearrival instruction. For the purposes of this  paragraph, "emergency medical dispatch" means the receipt of calls requesting  emergency medical services and the response of appropriate resources to the  appropriate location.