Section 163-3-7 - Personnel Requirements for Ground Ambulance Service or Non-Transporting Service Licensees1. A ground ambulance service or non-transporting service will be licensed at the level at which it agrees to provide, on all emergency medical calls, at least one emergency medical services person who is licensed and able to provide care at or above the service license level, except:A. When the service's response is in accordance with a Maine EMS-approved Response Assignment Plan.2. The phrase "able to provide care" means that the EMS person who is licensed at or above the service license level must be in the ambulance. If the higher-level EMS person is in the ambulance, he or she is able to render care. The higher-level EMS person must assess the patient prior to transport and determine that the lower-level EMS person can appropriately provide care during transport. In addition, the higher-level EMS person who is driving the vehicle needs to have the ability to communicate constantly with the lower-level EMS person who is caring for the patient. If the patient's needs change, the higher-level EMS person must switch roles with the lower-level EMS person.3. A ground ambulance service or non-transporting service must notify Maine EMS of the addition of any licensed EMS person to its roster of responding personnel prior to that person responding on behalf of the service and must report the termination or resignation of any EMS provider from its service within 5 days of the termination or resignation of the provider. Notification to Maine EMS may be made electronically or by mail.4. A ground ambulance service or non-transporting service may obtain Maine EMS permission to provide on some calls, based on personnel availability, a higher level of care than that for which it is licensed. In order to obtain this permission, a service must:A. Apply on forms available from Maine EMSB. Submit a fee of $100. This fee is waived if the service is simultaneously applying for this permission and for a service license and is submitting the fee required for licensure.C. Show that it can satisfy the requirements of these Rules (except that for numbers of personnel, the applicant must demonstrate that at least one Maine EMS licensed provider, licensed at the permit application level being sought, is affiliated with the applicant service).D. Renew its permission request when it applies for license renewal, demonstrating to Maine EMS that it continues to satisfy the requirements set forth in these Rules.E. Apply for new permission to provide a higher level of care by notifying Maine EMS.5. A ground ambulance service or non-transporting service shall not advertise (in newspapers, telephone directories, on television or commercial radio, on billboards or vehicles, or by other means of public promotion) themselves as providing a level of care other than that at which they are licensed under this section. A board permit to provide a higher level of care is not a license for advertising purposes. The Board may prohibit advertising language from any medium listed above if it deems such language to be potentially deceptive or confusing to the public with regard to the services offered.6. A ground ambulance service or non-transporting service shall not allow persons less than 18 years of age to participate in medical response operations or medical response observation, except when Maine EMS has approved the service's supervision plan for such persons and in accordance with Maine Department of Labor rules governing employment for minors.7. A ground ambulance service or non-transporting service must establish a written driver training program and/or standard operating procedure(s) for the operation of Ambulances and Emergency Medical Service Vehicles licensed by Maine EMS, that at a minimum includes the following:B. Emergency Vehicle Response to:1. Emergency Medical Call(s); and,2. Non-Emergency Medical Call(s) C. Operator Requirements for Program Participation:1. Must hold a valid state driver's license D. Initial Training: 1. Initial training must consist of the following, and the Operator is not permitted to operate independently during patient transport and/or in emergent mode until the requirements of this section have been met:a. The Operator has completed a review of all applicable sections of 29-A M.R.S;b. Completion of on-road driving skills with a service's designee, to include:c. An evaluation of the Operator's proficiency, knowledge, and proper operation of the specific vehicle(s) and equipment;i. A satisfactory evaluation must be achieved by the Operator to meet this requirementd. Successful completion of an Ambulance Vehicle Operator Course, or a course that has been approved by the Board as an equivalent, according to 32 M.R.S. §86(6). E. Service Administrator Review1. The Service Director or designee must review all Operator's motor vehicle driving history on an annual basis. F. Record Keeping1. Services will maintain a record of such training and will make it available to Maine EMS upon request. G. § 7(7) of this chapter is effective six (6) months after publication of this amended rule by the Secretary of State's Office.