Virginia Law

A. Supplemented transports require the following:

1. An ambulance equipped with an ALS intermediate/paramedic equipment package;

2. A determination by the sending physician that the patient's medically necessary care exceeds the scope of practice of available personnel certified at an advanced life support level or an equivalent approved by the Office of EMS; or

3. A determination by the sending physician that the specific equipment needed to care for the patient exceeds that required for a ground ambulance equipped with an ALS Advanced EMT/intermediate/paramedic equipment package.

B. An attendant-in-charge who must be a physician, registered nurse or physician assistant who is trained and experienced in the care and the equipment needed for the patient being transported.

C. An attendant who must be certified as an emergency medical technician or an equivalent approved by the Office of EMS in addition to the attendant-in-charge. The attendant must be a third person who is not the Operator.

D. An EMS agency requested to perform a supplemented transport, is responsible for the following:

1. Obtaining a written statement from the sending physician detailing the specific nature of the patient's medical condition and the medical equipment necessary for the transport. The written statement may be in the form of transport orders documented in the patient's medical record.

2. Verifying that the individual acting as attendant-in-charge for the transport is experienced in the patient care required and the operation of all equipment to be used for the patient to be transported.

An EMS agency requested to perform a supplemented transport shall refuse to perform the transport if compliance with the requirements of this section cannot be satisfied. Refusal to provide the transport must be documented by the EMS agency.