256.08 State emergency medical services activities.

(1) State emergency medical services plan.

(a) By December 31, 1995, the department shall prepare a state emergency medical services plan. The plan shall include an identification of priorities for changes in the state emergency medical services system for the 2 years following preparation of the plan. In preparing the plan, the department shall review all statutes and rules that relate to emergency medical services and recommend in the plan any changes in those statutes and rules that the department considers appropriate. After initial preparation of the plan, the department shall keep the plan current and shall reorder priorities for changes in the state emergency medical services system, based on determinations of the board.

(b) Biennially, prior to final adoption of the state emergency medical services plan, the department shall hold at least one public hearing on a draft of the plan.

(c) The department shall provide a copy of the state emergency medical services plan biennially to the legislature under s. 13.172 (2).

(2) Qualifications of state supervisor. The board shall recommend to the department the qualifications of any individual who may be hired on or after April 23, 1994, to supervise the subunit of the department that is primarily responsible for regulation of emergency medical services.

(3) Departmental rules; consultation. The department shall consult with the board before promulgating a proposed rule that relates to funding of emergency medical services programs under s. 256.12 or to regulation of emergency medical services.

(4) Departmental duties. The department shall:

(a) Serve as the lead state agency for emergency medical services.

(b) Implement measures to achieve objectives that are set forth in the state emergency medical services plan under sub. (1).

(c) Provide quality assurance in the emergency medical services system, including collecting and analyzing data relating to local and regional emergency medical services systems, ambulance service providers, emergency medical responders, and emergency medical services practitioners.

(d) Provide technical assistance to ambulance service providers, emergency medical responders, and emergency medical services practitioners in developing plans, expanding services, and complying with applicable statutes and rules.

(e) Set standards for all organizations that offer training to emergency medical responders and emergency medical services practitioners on what topics should be included in initial training and continuing training.

(f) Facilitate integration of ambulance service providers and hospitals in the same geographic area.

(g) Review recommendations of the board. The department may promulgate any rule changes necessary to implement those recommendations and may pursue any statutory changes necessary to implement those recommendations.

(h) Investigate complaints received regarding ambulance service providers, emergency medical responders, emergency medical services practitioners, and medical directors and take appropriate actions after first consulting with the board and the state medical director for emergency medical services.

(i) Provide advice to the adjutant general of the department of military affairs on the emergency medical aspects of the state plan of emergency management under s. 323.13 (1) (b) and coordinate emergency activities with the department of military affairs.

(j) Consult at least annually with the technical college system board and the department of transportation on issues that affect ambulance service providers, emergency medical responders, and emergency medical services practitioners.

(k) Promulgate rules that set forth the authority and duties of medical directors and the state medical director for emergency medical services.

History: 1993 a. 251, 491; 1995 a. 247; 2007 a. 130 ss. 117, 125 to 129; Stats. 2007 s. 256.08; 2009 a. 42; 2017 a. 12.