In administering the EMS system, the local EMS agency, with the approval of its medical director, may designate and contract with hospitals or other entities approved by the medical director of the local EMS agency pursuant to Section 1798.105 to provide medical direction of prehospital emergency medical care personnel, within its area of jurisdiction, as either base hospitals or alternative base stations, respectively. Hospitals or other entities so designated and contracted with as base hospitals or alternative base stations shall provide medical direction of prehospital emergency medical care provided for the area defined by the local EMS agency in accordance with policies and procedures established by the local EMS agency and approved by the medical director of the local EMS agency pursuant to Sections 1797.220 and 1798.
FacilitiesBase Hospitals
Section § 1798.100
A local Emergency Medical Services (EMS) agency, with the medical director's approval, can designate and contract with certain hospitals or other approved entities to guide emergency medical personnel before they reach the hospital. These designated hospitals, known as base hospitals or alternative base stations, must follow the guidelines and procedures set by the local EMS agency, which have been approved by the medical director.
EMS system local EMS agency medical director
Section § 1798.101
In certain rural areas, special exceptions can be made for hospitals without emergency service permits to be used as base hospitals, or to treat emergency patients, if certain conditions are met. A local EMS agency can use such hospitals if they follow approved medical control policies and receive permission from relevant authorities.
In cases where regular emergency hospitals can't be used due to geographic or other issues, the local EMS medical director can authorize alternative facilities if they have the needed staff and equipment. The local EMS must ensure that these facilities meet safety protocols, considering factors like staff availability, capability to handle injuries, equipment, accessibility to more comprehensive services, and time constraints.
Any changes in the alternative facility's ability to meet these standards must be reported to the local EMS agency.
(a)CA Health & Safety Code § 1798.101(a)
In rural areas, as determined by the authority, where the use of a base hospital having a basic emergency medical service special permit pursuant to subdivision (c) of Section 1277 is precluded because of geographic or other extenuating circumstances, a local EMS agency, in order to assure medical direction to prehospital emergency medical care personnel, may utilize other hospitals which do not have a basic emergency medical service permit but which have been approved by the medical director of the local EMS agency for utilization as a base hospital, if both of the following apply:
(1)CA Health & Safety Code § 1798.101(a)(1)
Medical control is maintained in accordance with policies and procedures established by the local EMS agency, with the approval of the medical director of the local EMS agency.
(2)CA Health & Safety Code § 1798.101(a)(2)
Approval is secured from the authority.
(b)Copy CA Health & Safety Code § 1798.101(b)
(1)Copy CA Health & Safety Code § 1798.101(b)(1)
In rural areas, as determined by the authority, when the use of a hospital having a basic emergency medical service special permit is precluded because of geographic or other extenuating circumstances, as determined by the authority, the medical director of the local EMS agency may authorize another facility which does not have this special permit to receive patients requiring emergency medical services if the facility has adequate staff and equipment to provide these services, as determined by the medical director of the local EMS agency.
(2)CA Health & Safety Code § 1798.101(b)(2)
A local EMS agency which utilizes in its EMS system any facility which does not have a special permit to receive patients requiring emergency medical care pursuant to paragraph (1) shall submit to the authority, as part of the plan required by Section 1797.254, protocols approved by the medical director of the local EMS agency to ensure that the use of that facility is in the best interests of patient care. The protocols addressing patient safety and the use of the nonpermit facility shall take into account, but not be limited to, the following:
(A)CA Health & Safety Code § 1798.101(b)(2)(A)
The medical staff, and the availability of the staff at various times to care for patients requiring emergency medical services.
(B)CA Health & Safety Code § 1798.101(b)(2)(B)
The ability of staff to care for the degree and severity of patient injuries.
(C)CA Health & Safety Code § 1798.101(b)(2)(C)
The equipment and services available at the facility necessary to care for patients requiring emergency medical services and the severity of their injuries.
(D)CA Health & Safety Code § 1798.101(b)(2)(D)
The availability of more comprehensive emergency medical services and the distance and travel time necessary to make the alternative emergency medical services available.
(E)CA Health & Safety Code § 1798.101(b)(2)(E)
The time of day and any limitations which may apply for a nonpermit facility to treat patients requiring emergency medical services.
(3)CA Health & Safety Code § 1798.101(b)(3)
Any change in the status of a nonpermit facility, authorized pursuant to this subdivision to care for patients requiring emergency medical services, with respect to protocols and the facility’s ability to care for the patients shall be reported by the facility to the local EMS agency.
rural areas base hospital emergency medical services
Section § 1798.102
This law requires base hospitals to oversee emergency medical services, including initial treatment, patient sorting and transportation. They must also ensure compliance with advanced or limited advanced life support protocols through direct medical supervision.
The base hospital shall supervise prehospital treatment, triage, and transport, advanced life support or limited advanced life support, and monitor personnel program compliance by direct medical supervision.
base hospital prehospital treatment triage
Section § 1798.104
This law requires base hospitals to ensure that emergency medical services (EMS) personnel receive both initial training and ongoing education as specified by local emergency medical services policies and procedures.
The base hospital shall provide, or cause to be provided, EMS prehospital personnel training and continuing education in accordance with local EMS policies and procedures.
base hospital EMS prehospital personnel emergency medical services
Section § 1798.105
This law allows the medical director of a local emergency medical services (EMS) agency to approve an alternative base station for providing medical direction in areas where no qualified base hospital is available.
For this to happen, the alternative base station must follow local EMS agency policies, approved by the medical director. Additionally, any duties not covered by this alternative must be handled by the local EMS agency, a base hospital elsewhere in the system, or an approved receiving hospital.
The medical director of the local EMS agency may approve an alternative base station, as defined in Section 1798.53, to provide medical direction to advanced life support or limited advanced life support personnel for an area of the local EMS system for which no qualified base hospital is available, to provide that medical direction, providing that both the following conditions are met:
(a)CA Health & Safety Code § 1798.105(a)
Medical control is maintained in accordance with policies and procedures established by the local EMS agency, with the approval of the medical director of the local EMS agency.
(b)CA Health & Safety Code § 1798.105(b)
Any responsibilities of a base station hospital, including review of run reports or provision of continuing education, which are not assigned to the alternative base station, are assigned to either the local EMS agency, a base hospital for another area of the local EMS system, or a receiving hospital which has been approved by the medical director to, and has agreed to, assume the responsibilities.
alternative base station medical direction EMS agency
