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Virginia Administrative Code
Title 12. Health
Agency 5. Department of Health
Chapter 31. Virginia Emergency Medical Services Regulations
11/21/2024

12VAC5-31-880. Air medical service personnel classifications.

Air medical service personnel classifications are as follows:

1. Air medical crew (rotary).

a. A pilot-in-command in accordance with current Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) requirements.

b. An attendant-in-charge shall be an air medical specialist who must be one of the following:

(1) Physician;

(2) Registered nurse or physician assistant, licensed for a minimum of two years with specialized air medical training and possessing the equivalent training as identified in 12VAC5-31-885;

(3) Paramedic, certified for a minimum of two years with specialized air medical training; or

(4) Other health care personnel with equivalent training or experience as approved by the Office of EMS.

c. An attendant shall have specialized air training as identified in 12VAC5-31-885.

2. Air medical crew (fixed wing).

a. A pilot-in-command in accordance with current FAA requirements.

b. An attendant-in-charge shall be an air medical specialist who shall be one of the following:

(1) A physician;

(2) A registered nurse or physician assistant licensed for a minimum of two years with specialized air medical training;

(3) An emergency medical technician certified for a minimum of two years with specialized air medical training; or

(4) Any other health care personnel with equivalent training or experience as approved by the Office of EMS.

c. An attendant shall be a Paramedic or an equivalent approved by the Office of EMS.

3. Specialty care mission providers.

a. The agency shall have in place policies that identify the crew composition for each specialty mission type that it is willing to perform and are consistent with industry standards. These policies shall be approved by the agency OMD and have a method of continuously monitoring adherence to those policies.

b. The specialty care team must minimally consist of a physician, registered nurse or other specialists as the primary caregiver whose expertise must be consistent with the needs of the patient, per the agency's policy required in subdivision 3 a of this section.

c. All specialty care team members must have received an orientation to the air medical service that includes (i) in-flight treatment protocols, (ii) general aircraft safety and emergency procedures, (iii) operational policies, (iv) infection control, and (v) altitude physiology annually.

d. Specialty care mission personnel must be accompanied by at least one regularly scheduled air medical staff member of the air medical service.

4. Staffing for specific mission types.

a. Prehospital scene responses - consists of the pilot-in-command, attendant-in-charge who shall be a Paramedic and an attendant.

b. Inter-facility transports.

(1) ALS - consists of the pilot-in-command, attendant-in-charge, and an attendant.

(2) For fixed wing, the attendant may be a BLS provider.

(3) Critical care - consists of the pilot-in-command, attendant-in-charge, and an attendant. A member of the medical crew shall be a physician, physician assistant, or a registered nurse.

Statutory Authority

§§ 32.1-12 and 32.1-111.4 of the Code of Virginia.

Historical Notes

Derived from Virginia Register Volume 19, Issue 3, eff. January 15, 2003; amended Virginia Register Volume 29, Issue 1, eff. October 10, 2012.

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