Texas Senate Bill SB53

Texas 2013 - 83rd Regular

• Filed: 11/12/12

Caption

Relating to the definition of "advanced life support" for the purposes of providing emergency medical services.

Impact

The enactment of SB53 would affect state regulations on emergency medical services by setting specific standards for what qualifies as advanced life support. By establishing more precise definitions, the bill aims to improve the quality of care provided in prehospital environments and ensure uniformity in performance among emergency medical technicians and paramedics. It also seeks to address potential discrepancies in care resulting from varying interpretations of what constitutes advanced procedures in emergency settings.

Summary

Senate Bill 53, filed by Senator Zaffirini, aims to clarify the definition of 'advanced life support' in the context of emergency medical services within Texas. The proposed bill revises the existing language in Section 773.003 of the Health and Safety Code to specify that advanced life support encompasses emergency prehospital care which includes invasive medical acts along with an advanced life support assessment. This change is intended to ensure a clear and effective response in medical emergencies by refining the standards of care expected in situations that necessitate immediate medical intervention.

Contention

While the bill appears to have a strong foundation in improving medical response quality, it may attract scrutiny or contention relating to the implications of greater standardization in emergency medical practices. Some stakeholders might be concerned about the associated costs of implementing new training protocols or changes in operational procedures for medical response teams. Additionally, there may be discussions around the adequacy of current emergency services training programs to meet these new standards and whether the bill places undue burden on local emergency service providers.