2025 Session Last amended: 2024 session

§ 144E.275 — Medical Response Unit Registration

Plain-Language Summary

This section allows local governments to register 'medical response units' — groups of trained first responders who provide initial emergency care before an ambulance arrives. To be registered, a unit must have a medical director, at least one EMT or EMR on staff, and be officially recognized by a local government. Registration lasts two years and must be renewed. The section also allows certified EMTs with two or more years of experience to become 'Community Emergency Medical Technicians' (CEMTs), who can provide follow-up patient care and help prevent repeat 911 calls through planned, non-emergency visits.

Practical Notes
First responder groups that want to be recognized as a ‘medical response unit’ by the state should apply for registration through the Office of Emergency Medical Services. Registration helps ensure the group has a medical director and qualified personnel. CEMTs provide a valuable service in rural communities where access to regular health care is limited — they can follow up with high-risk patients, reducing unnecessary 911 calls and emergency room visits, but only when working under a physician-approved care plan.