EMFTS Board Approves ‘Added Competencies’ for Ohio EMTs and Paramedics Effective June 26, 2024

The State Board of Emergency Medical, Fire, and Transportation Services (EMFTS Board) has the legislative authority to determine the Ohio EMS scope of practice, and it includes the services that can be performed by each level of Ohio EMS certification. All services provided by certified Ohio EMS providers must be authorized by a physician who meets the qualifications to serve as the medical director of an Ohio EMS agency as cited in Ohio Administrative Code 4765-3-05. In addition to authorization, the medical director must provide a written protocol, training, continuing education, and a quality assurance program for the services provided. The medical director of an Ohio EMS agency retains the authority to restrict the performances of services that have been approved by the EMFTS Board. However, regardless of the amount of training provided, the medical director is not permitted to exceed the scope of practice that has been approved by the EMFTS Board.

Within the Ohio EMS scope of practice that has been approved by the EMFTS Board, there are now two categories of authorized services: "core competencies" and "added competencies." Core competencies are services that are required to be taught and are included in the statewide approved initial training curricula of Ohio EMS education institutions for EMRs, EMTs, AEMTs, and Paramedics. Added competencies are elective services that are not required to be taught and are not included in the statewide approved initial training curricula for EMRs, EMTs, AEMTs, and Paramedics. For services classified as "added competencies," the qualified medical director is responsible for providing the education for each specific service he or she elects to authorize. Analogous to core competencies, the medical director must also provide training, a written protocol, continuing education, and a quality assurance program for each elective additional competency.

On June 26, 2024, the State Board of Emergency Medical, Fire, and Transportation Services (EMFTS Board) approved the following "added competencies" to be included in the Ohio EMS scope of practice:

1. Emergency Medical Technician (EMT)
   Metered-dose or nebulized bronchodilator administration for anaphylaxis.

1. Emergency Medical Technician (EMT)
   Glucagon administration via intranasal or IM routes for hypoglycemia

1. Paramedic
   Initiation of blood and blood products

These added competencies are effective on June 26, 2024