The Virginia Office of Emergency Medical Services has produced this EMS Training Program Administration Manual in an effort to keep Course Coordinators informed on the latest procedures and polices relating to Basic and Advanced Life Support Programs. The purpose of this manual is to assist course coordinators and faculty in the process or course planning, administration and testing. The ultimate goal of this process is the education of high quality entry level pre-hospital providers who will make a difference in patient outcome through provision of quality care.
Updates for future changes will be distributed on a periodic basis to keep Course Coordinators informed of changes. These updates will usually be distributed by mail along with a cover memo explaining the changes and any other necessary information. Unless otherwise stated in these cover memos, all changes listed on update pages should be considered as effective upon the date of receipt. These updates may be distributed prior to a future change with the Effective Date of the changes printed on the page differing from the Date of Issue. In these cases, the existing policy will remain in effect until the printed Effective Date.
In most cases, the Effective Date for a change will only apply to courses announced to START after that date. Changes that become effective during an on-going course will usually not apply to that course or program unless clearly stated in the policy revision. Instructors who receive updated pages and are uncertain or unclear of the changes listed should contact the Office of EMS with their inquiries.
Unless specifically notified otherwise, all policies and procedures listed here are binding on the Course Coordinator, Training Program and students involved. Such authority for official state policies are inferred by reference in the current Chapter 12 VAC-5-31 of the Virginia Administrative Code (Regulations of the Board of Health - Governing Emergency Medical Services) and are legally binding under the Code of Virginia. Any conflicting information contained in this manual does not supersede the regulations referenced above or the Code of Virginia.