Mainline - San Francisco Firefighters Local 798

California EMSA Regulatory Changes for 2010
Stephen V. Giacalone, Director
Everyone’s favorite agency, the California Emergency Medical Services Authority(CaEMSA) has gotten together and come-up with
some changes to certification and recertification of EMTs and paramedics in our great state. The bulk of these changes; however,
deal directly with EMTs in California. There have been “EMT 2010 Rollout Workshops” throughout the State in the first-half of the
year. I attended the workshop here in San Francisco, and I am going to try to give you some of the highlights.
Name Change
- Change title of “EMT-1” to “EMT” for consistency with the new term from the National Scope of Practice Model. Also, codifying
the National Registry of EMTs , EMT Basic written skills exam as the certifying exam for California.
EMT Certification
1. Starting July 1, 2010, all EMTs will need to obtain a criminal background check for
EMT certification.
2. In order to certify or recertify, all EMTs will need to complete an EMT certification
application.
3. EMTs will be responsible for notifying their certifying entity of their current mailing
address and shall notify certifying entity in writting within thirty(30) calendar days
of any and all changes of mailing address, giving both the old and the new address
and EMT registry number.
Disciplinary Regulations
1. Establish a three-day timeline for the relevant employer or local EMS agency to notify
each otherof an allegation of conduct that would lead to an investigation.
2. Allow relevant employers the first right of refusal to conduct investigations of an
allegation of conduct that would lead to an investigation.
3. Allow relevant employer... to create a disciplinary action plan that is consistent with
the new Recommended Guidelines for Disciplinary Orders and Conditions of Probation
for EMT(MDOs).
4. Define “relevant employer”, which is an ambulance service permitted by CHP or a
public service agency, a fire department, law enforcement agency or other public
safety agency that employs EMTs.
Disciplinary Actions
-Licensure Actions and Temporary Suspension Orders(TSO)
1. A licensure action is any situation described in Section 1798.200, Health and Safety
Code.
2. Licensure actions can be disciplinary or can prevent a future violation from
reoccurring.
3. Actions should be based on the severity of the act(s), frequency of violations, criminal
conduct and remediation attempts.
4. A TSO is issued when imminent threat to health and safety exists.
Again, these are ONLY highlights of the new rules and procdures regarding amended Health and Safety Code, Division 2.5 that
became effective July 1, 2010. For any additional information or to view the entire handbook, go to www.emsa.ca.gov/EMT2010.
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