PHILADELPHIA FIRE DEPARTMENT DIRECTIVE #61 OCTOBER 2015 SUBJECT: EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICE CERTIFICATIONS

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1 PHILADELPHIA FIRE DEPARTMENT DIRECTIVE #61 SUBJECT: EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICE CERTIFICATIONS 1. POLICY 1.1 It is the policy of the Philadelphia Fire Department that all uniform members possess and maintain a current and valid Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) certification unless released from such responsibility by the Fire Commissioner. 1.2 It is a condition of employment in the Philadelphia Fire Department that all Firefighters, including Fire Officers up to the rank of Captain, possess and maintain a current and valid Pennsylvania Department of Health (PA DOH) Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) certification, unless released from such responsibility by the Fire Commissioner. 1.3 It is a condition of employment in the Philadelphia Fire Department that all Fire Service Paramedics and Paramedic Officers must possess and maintain a current and valid PA DOH Paramedic certification and must maintain current medical command authorization. 1.4 It is a condition of employment in the Philadelphia Fire Department that all Fire Service EMTs must possess and maintain a current and valid PA DOH Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) certification. 1.5 All EMTs (FSE, FF/EMT and Fire Officer/EMT) and Fire Service Paramedics (including EMS Officers) will attend all Fire Department mandated training and education. 1.6 The Fire Department will review the CPR and EMS certification status of all uniformed employees at least annually. 2. DEFINITIONS 2.1 CONTINUING EDUCATION Learning activities intended to build upon the education and experience of EMS providers for the enhancement of practice and to improve service quality. 1

2 DIRECTIVE CONTINUING EDUCATION COURSE A PA DOH approved and registered program of continuing education for which the PA DOH will grant an EMS provider continuing education credit. 2.3 MEDICAL COMMAND AUTHORIZATION The medical director grants authorization to Fire Service Paramedics (FSPs) to perform ALS skills as allowed by PA DOH scope of practice and Statewide ALS Protocol. The medical director has the authority to grant, deny, or restrict medical command authorization. 3. RESPONSIBILITY It will be the responsibility of all members to exercise the appropriate control as dictated by their rank in the implementation of this directive. 3.1 MEMBERS Will comply with these rules and promptly report any changes affecting their EMS certification status to their officer/unit head. Some examples of changes that affect EMS certification status are as follows: a. Felony conviction b. Driving under the influence (DUI) conviction c. Suspension or loss of PA Drivers License (see also Directive 3, Section 3.1.1) d. Missing, lost or damaged EMS certification cards e. Change of address f. Failure to meet continuing education requirements FSPs and EMTs (including officers) will carry their current and valid CPR and PA DOH EMS provider certification card on their person at all times when working Will register on the PA DOH EMS Registry System (see Appendix A for directions) Will log onto the PA DOH EMS Registry System to confirm continuing education credit was posted to the member s continuing education record between fifteen and thirty days after attending a continuing education class Will report any continuing education discrepancies to their company officer/unit head Will report lost or missing CPR or EMS certification cards to their company officer/unit head. 2

3 DIRECTIVE Will follow Regional EMS Office procedures for acquiring a new/replacement EMS certification card. Member must report to the Regional EMS Office at 3061 Island Ave. and present a photo ID before the EMS Regional Office will issue a replacement certification card Will notify company officer/unit head upon receipt of updated or replacement EMS certification card. 3.2 OFFICERS/UNIT HEADS Will physically examine each member s certification cards and, if FF/EMT, FSE, or FSP, EMS Continuing Education (Con Ed) profile, annually the month preceding the member s birth month to ensure that Firefighters, Firefighter/EMTs, FSPs and Fire Service EMTs (FSEs) under their command have the required current CPR, EMS certification card, and sufficient Con Ed credit (approximately 8 hours annually for EMTs is sufficient).note: Battalion Chiefs are to examine the certification cards of all Fire Officers, and Paramedic Officers under their command Will check the address listed on the member s continuing education record and compare to the address on the company roster Will direct member to correct any discrepancies related to address or Con Ed credit Will, if member does not have a current CPR card, submit a memo to EMS Training outlining details and request a replacement card Will, if a member s EMS certification card is missing or lost: a. Submit a memo through channels to the appropriate Deputy Commissioner with explanation of the circumstances. b. Direct the member to contact the Regional EMS Office to request a replacement certification card Will notify the appropriate Chief, through channels, when a member s continuing education record indicates the member has not received sufficient credits to schedule the member to attend the required continuing education class/classes. 4. GENERAL INFORMATION 4.1 NON-COMPLIANCE Any member who fails to comply with these provisions will be subject to disciplinary action up to, and including, dismissal. 3

4 DIRECTIVE CONTINUING EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS EMERGENCY MEDICAL TECHNICIANS In order to recertify, an EMT must attend twenty-four (24) hours of continuing education, with at least eighteen (18) hours in clinical patient/core category (previously known as medical /trauma category), at least 30 days prior to the EMT s certification expiration date PARAMEDICS In order to be eligible for medical command authorization, a paramedic must attend thirty-six (36) hours of continuing education, with at least twenty-seven (27) hours in clinical patient/core category (previously known as medical/trauma category) prior to the paramedic s certification expiration date (which runs 2 years). This requirement must be met at least 30 days prior to the paramedic s certification expiration date. In addition to the continuing education requirement, paramedics must demonstrate knowledge and skill competency annually. 5. REFERENCES 5.1 ADDENDUM 1 Instructions for Logging on to the PA DOH EMS Registry 5.2 ADDENDUM 2 EMS Providers Expired Certification BY ORDER OF THE FIRE COMMISSIONER 4

5 DIRECTIVE #61 ADDENDUM #1 Instructions for Logging onto the PA DOH EMS Registry If you have already registered on the PA DOH EMS Registry enter your user name and password, then go to step 7. If you have forgotten your user name, click on Forgot user ID? (The second item in the menu on the left of the screen) and follow instructions. If you have forgotten your password, click on Unlock account/reset password and follow instructions. If it has been a while since you logged on you may be required to update your profile. If you have never logged onto the website, follow these instructions: 1. Go to 2. On the left side of this page pick New User 3. Enter the information required on this page 4. At the end of this page click on Register 5. Once you have registered, proceed to the Log In page 6. Log in to the website 7. Click on Continuing Education Record / EMS Registry System (EMSRS), the third selection from the top next to the Star of Life. 8. This will open the General Information tab on your profile. If you have had your picture taken you should see it here. 9. Confirm that your address is correct. If it is not correct, enter your correct address and then click on Save Profile near the top left hand side of the page. To view your Con-Ed record, click on the tab labeled Con-ED at the top of the frame. This will open your continuing education record. Make sure that Current Period is selected then click on Print Status Report on the left side of the page under EMS Practitioner Status report. Confirm that you have received credit for all classes that you have attended. Print your Con-Ed status report. If there are classes missing from your official PA DOH Con-ED record, contact EMS Training at

6 DIRECTIVE #61 ADDENDUM #2 EMS PROVIDERS EXPIRED CERTIFICATION EMS Providers now work under new rules and regulations governing their EMS certification status. Any EMS Provider whose certification expires is now required, by state law, to test through National Registry. EMTs have a 3 year certification period and Paramedics have a 2 year certification period. In order to meet the requirements for testing, the following criteria must be met: EMTs must have the required 24 Con Ed credits (18 in Clinical Patient Care topics); Paramedics must have the required 36 Con Ed credits (27 in Clinical Patient Care topics), completed prior to approval to test. EMS Providers must have a current BLS for Healthcare Providers certification (CPR card). EMS certification must not be expired over 2 years. Certifications expired over 2 years will require the provider to take the written exam AND the psychomotor exam. Certifications expired less than 2 years require the provider to take the written exam ONLY. Once these criteria are met, the provider must contact the regional EMS office requesting a Lapsed Provider Status application. The provider will also need to register with NREMT online. The provider will then pay a fee to test (EMTs pay $70; Paramedics pay $110). All testing is done at Pearson Vue centers after the provider receives an Approval To Test (ATT) from NREMT. If the provider fails the NREMT exam, they will be required to wait 15 days before being eligible to test again. Effective January 1, 2016, the member is responsible for payment of the NREMT exam fee (EMTs pay $70; Paramedics pay $110). Any member whose EMS Certification expires, will be detailed for 1 week to EMS Training to receive an EMT Refresher or a Paramedic Refresher course (dependent on your certification level) in preparation for their NREMT exam.