The bill aims to enhance the standards and training for personnel involved in ambulance services, particularly focusing on interfacility specialty care transports. It establishes a new section emphasizing the necessity of a statewide emergency medical care program to ensure the health and safety of citizens. The legislation seeks to set minimum standards for first responders, emergency medical technicians, and ambulance services, while also addressing the need for timely and safe patient transfers to appropriate care facilities, especially in situations where workforce limitations may hinder transport.

Key amendments to existing law include the introduction of definitions for "interfacility transport" and "specialty care transport," which clarify the medical transport of patients between facilities and the specific care required for critically ill or injured patients during such transfers. Additionally, the bill allows for registered nurses without emergency medical technician certification to serve as sufficient personnel for ambulance services providing interfacility specialty care transport under certain conditions, such as the presence of a certified emergency medical service provider and the absence of a paramedic. This flexibility aims to improve patient care during critical transfers while maintaining safety standards.

Statutes affected:
Original bill: 18.73.030, 18.73.150