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Advisories, memos, and notices for OEMS

See relevant advisories and more for the Office of Emergency Medical Services (OEMS).

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Flu and COVID-19 Vaccination by EMS Personnel Under Commissioner’s Order 12/18/2020

Order of the Commissioner of Public Health Allowing Certain Individuals to Administer COVID-19 and Influenza Vaccine (PDF) (PDF 96.83 KB)
Drug Control Program Guidance for EMS Personnel, Medical and Nursing Student Flu and COVID-19 Vaccination under Commissioner’s Order – December 18, 2020 (PDF) (PDF 127.13 KB)
Drug Control Program Guidance for EMS Personnel, Medical and Nursing Student Flu and COVID-19 Vaccination under Commissioner’s Order – December 18, 2020 (DOCX) (DOCX 27.96 KB)
Special Protocol for EMS Personnel Flu Vaccination under Commissioner’s Order – December 18, 2020 (PDF) (PDF 307.74 KB)
Special Protocol for EMS Personnel Flu Vaccination under Commissioner’s Order – December 18, 2020 (DOCX) (DOCX 137.83 KB)
Special Protocol for Paramedic and Advanced EMT COVID-19 Vaccination under Commissioner’s Order – May 18, 2021 (PDF) (PDF 497.66 KB)
Special Protocol for Paramedic and Advanced EMT COVID-19 Vaccination under Commissioner’s Order – May 18, 2021 (DOCX) (DOCX 33.33 KB)
Special Protocol for EMT-Basic COVID-19 Vaccination under Commissioner’s Order – May 18, 2021 (PDF) (PDF 574.3 KB)
Special Protocol for EMT-Basic COVID-19 Vaccination under Commissioner’s Order – May 18, 2021 (DOCX) (DOCX 35.28 KB)
Special Protocol Appendix A1 for EMS Personnel Pfizer COVID-19 Vaccination under Commissioner’s Order – Updated May 18, 2021 (PDF) (PDF 1.45 MB)
Special Protocol Appendix A1 for EMS Personnel Pfizer COVID-19 Vaccination under Commissioner’s Order – Updated May 18, 2021 (DOCX) (DOCX 745.31 KB)
Special Protocol Appendix A2 for EMS Personnel Moderna COVID-19 Vaccination under Commissioner’s Order – December 18, 2020 (PDF) (PDF 451.31 KB)
Special Protocol Appendix A2 for EMS Personnel Moderna COVID-19 Vaccination under Commissioner’s Order – December 18, 2020 (DOCX) (DOCX 69.59 KB)
Special Protocol Appendix A3 for EMS Personnel Janssen COVID-19 Vaccination under Commissioner’s Order – March 1, 2021 (PDF) (PDF 395.55 KB)
Special Protocol Appendix A3 for EMS Personnel Janssen COVID-19 Vaccination under Commissioner’s Order – March 1, 2021 (DOCX) (DOCX 91.91 KB)
CDC/ACIP IM Injection – December 18, 2020 (PDF) (PDF 170.71 KB)
CDC/ACIP IM Injection – December 18, 2020 (DOCX) (DOCX 152 KB)
CDC/ACIP Vaccine Administration – December 18, 2020 (PDF) (PDF 313.8 KB)
CDC/ACIP Vaccine Administration – December 18, 2020 (DOCX) (DOCX 139.65 KB)

First responder agencies

Optional First Responder Naloxone Program Frequently Asked Questions (DOCX 17.37 KB)
Guidance on Optional Naloxone Program for First Responder Agencies (DOCX 78.31 KB)

Initial training and continuing education

Advisory: New Student Disclosure Requirement for Paramedic-Level MA Accredited Training Institutions Regarding National Accreditation, 11/14/12 (RTF 287.06 KB)
Advisory: EMT Certification vs. Athletic Trainer Licensure and Training (RTF 1.22 MB)
Advisory 19-02-01: Training Officer Review of EMT Continuing Education 2/22/2019 (DOCX 53.64 KB)
Advisory 14-9-07: Emergency Modification to Haloperidol administration under Protocol 2.4 Behavioral Emergencies 9/29/2014 (DOCX 29.91 KB)
Advisory 14-8-06: Student Field Internships at MA-Licensed Ambulance Services (DOCX 30.2 KB)
Advisory 14-7-04: Elimination of Refresher Training Courses (DOCX 32.65 KB)
Advisory 14-5-02: Deadlines and Fees for Renewal of Accreditation (DOCX 26.49 KB)

Certification

Advisory: Written Examination for EMT Certification (RTF 325.8 KB)

Ambulance services

Advisory 20-12-01: Proof of Certification and Testing Data to Obtain Massachusetts Ambulance Certification - December 2020 (PDF) (PDF 178.7 KB)
Advisory 20-12-01: Proof of Certification and Testing Data to Obtain Massachusetts Ambulance Certification - December 2020 (DOC) (DOCX 49.86 KB)
Notice: Caution of Placing NRB or BVM on Warming Pads (6/15/20) (DOCX 13.69 KB)
Emergency Waiver: EMS Transport of Emergency Patients in Impending Childbirth or with Pregnancy Complications to Designated Alternate Sites on Hospital Grounds – 4/3/20 (DOCX 76.88 KB)
Advisory 20-03-02: Unprotected Exposure Reporting to EMS Personnel and First Responders for COVID-19 (3/20/20) (DOCX 82.06 KB)
Advisory 17-05-01: Substitutions During Temporary Drug Supply Shortages, 5/5/17 (DOCX 34.78 KB)
Circular Letter: DHCQ 17-1-668 Implementation of the STEP Law: Voluntary Non-Opioid Directive Form – 1/24/2017 - English (DOCX 78.13 KB)
Advisory 16-01-01: Alternative to Auto-Injectors for Administration of Epinephrine 1:1000, 1/13/16 (DOCX 36.31 KB)
Massachusetts EMS Mass Casualty Incident (MCI) Plan (DOC 561 KB)
Advisory 15-09-02: Opioid Incident Data Submission to MATRIS (DOCX 44.42 KB)
ADVISORY 15-7-01: Updates to US GSA Federal Specification for the Star of Life Ambulance, KKK-A-1822F and MA Implementation Timeline (Corrected) (DOCX 46.61 KB)
Advisory 14-9-07: Emergency Modification to Haloperidol administration under Protocol 2.4 Behavioral Emergencies 9/29/2014 (DOCX 29.91 KB)
Advisory 14-8-06: Student Field Internships at MA-Licensed Ambulance Services (DOCX 30.2 KB)
Updated Massachusetts EMS Radio Communications Plan, Effective 5/24/2013 (DOC 2.56 MB)
EMS Operational Changes During Severe Weather Events Advisory 2/2013 (RTF 51.74 KB)
Advisory: Ensuring Ambulance Cot Safety and Preventing Cot Tip Over, 1/24/12 (RTF 305.92 KB)
Advisory: ALS Waveform Capnography Equipment Reminder and Clarification, 11/14/12 (RTF 291.47 KB)
Advisory: EMS Response to Assisted Living Residences vs. Licensed Health Care Facilities, and Cancellation (RTF 35.5 KB)
Advisory: HIPAA Allows Disclosure of Trip Records to Organ Banks (RTF 24.63 KB)
Advisory: Ambulances with Patients on Board Stopping at Other Emergencies (RTF 59.58 KB)
Urgent Notice Updated: Ferno PROFlexx Model 35-X Stretcher Failures and Cot Handling Safety (RTF 352.88 KB)
Advisory: Waiver of Cutoff Date in 105 CMR 170.355(C) and (D) (RTF 137.99 KB)
Advisory: Elevating Wheeled Cot Safety Practices (RTF 479.56 KB)
Advisory: Protection from Liability for Physicians Providing Medical Oversight to MA Ambulance Services (RTF 485.66 KB)
Advisory: TASERS and EMS Response (RTF 462.52 KB)
Advisory: Delivery of Ambulance Trip Records to Receiving Hospitals (RTF 1.29 MB)
Manufacturer's Instructions: Thoratec Ventricular Assist Device (VAD) 
Advisory: Pronouncement of Death Authority (RTF 14.04 KB)
Advisory: HIPAA authorizes a covered entity to disclose patient protected health information for treatment purposes without patient authorization (RTF 148.02 KB)
Advisory: Administration of Medication by Paramedics without Assessment or Transport (RTF 138.76 KB)
Advisory: Immediate Dispatch and Confirmation of EMS Response (RTF 265.42 KB)

Statewide treatment protocols

All Statewide Treatment Protocol documents 
Update: Ketamine Authorized for Use by Paramedics When Treating Behavioral Emergency Patients - 12/15/16 (DOCX 499.83 KB)
Advisory 21-09-01: Ensuring Paramedic Competency in 12-Lead ECG Interpretation (DOCX 42.23 KB)
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