Requirements for PSAPs to Provide Emergency Medical Dispatch Services

(1) By July 1, 2012, and thereafter, each primary PSAP, regional PSAP, and RECC shall either: (a) provide EMD through certified emergency medical dispatchers at such PSAP or RECC; or (b) arrange for EMD to be provided through a certified EMD resource. (2) By July 1, 2012, and thereafter, each primary PSAP, regional PSAP, and RECC that provides EMD through certified emergency medical dispatchers at such PSAP or RECC and each certified EMD resource that provides EMD shall: (a) use a single Department-approved Emergency Medical Dispatch Protocol Reference System on every request for medical assistance, unless exigent circumstances prohibit such use; (b) have in place policies and procedures for the safe and effective use of the Department-approved EMDPRS; (c) provide pre-arrival instructions; and (d) provide dispatch life support in compliance with the written text of scripts and other processes within a Department-approved EMDPRS. (3) In recognition of the unique responsibilities of wireless state police PSAPs to receive wireless 911 calls, wireless state police PSAPs shall be permitted to meet the requirements of 560 CMR 5.05 as follows: (a) Wireless state police PSAPs shall, whenever possible, immediately transfer or relay wireless 911 calls requesting emergency medical assistance to the appropriate PSAP, RECC, or private safety department in order for such entity to provide EMD through certified emergency medical dispatchers or through a certified EMD resource. (b) For wireless 911 calls that are not able to be transferred or relayed to the appropriate PSAP, RECC, or private safety department in order for such entity to provide EMD through certified emergency medical dispatchers or through a certified EMD resource, and for calls that are within the jurisdiction of the wireless state police PSAP, the wireless state police PSAP shall either provide EMD through certified emergency medical dispatchers; or arrange for EMD to be provided through a certified EMD resource. 5.04: continued ( 1) Enhanced 911 Telecommunicators Certified on or before June 24, 2011. An enhanced 911 telecommunicator who is employed by a PSAP as a certified enhanced 911 telecommunicator on or before June 24, 2011 shall, in order to maintain certification as an enhanced 911 telecommunicator, successfully complete a minimum of 16 hours of Department-approved continuing education annually commencing July 1, 2012, or the equivalent thereof as approved by the Department. A minimum of two hours of the annual 16-hour continuing education requirement shall be dedicated to the identification and response to callers experiencing behavioral health crises. Such training shall be developed in accordance with best practices in consultation with the Executive Office of Health and Human Services (EOHHS). (2) Enhanced 911 Telecommunicators Not Certified on or before June 24, 2011. An individual who is not employed by a PSAP as a certified enhanced 911 telecommunicator on or before June 24, 2011 shall obtain certification by the Department as an enhanced 911 telecommunicator by meeting the following qualifications: (a) successful completion of a minimum of two days of 911 equipment and basic telecommunicator training offered by the Department; and (b) successful completion of a minimum of 40 hours of Department-approved basic telecommunicator training, or the equivalent thereof as approved by the Department. A component of the education shall be on the identification and response to callers experiencing behavioral health crises. In order to maintain certification as an enhanced 911 telecommunicator, such person shall successfully complete thereafter a minimum of 16 hours of Department-approved continuing education annually, or the equivalent thereof as approved by the Department. A minimum of two hours of the annual 16-hour continuing education requirement shall be dedicated to the identification and response to callers experiencing behavioral health crises. Such training shall be developed in accordance with best practices in consultation with the Executive Office of Health and Human Services (EOHHS).