Fla. Stat. 401.272
Emergency medical services community health care


(1)

The purpose of this section is to encourage more effective utilization of the skills of emergency medical technicians and paramedics by enabling them to perform specific additional health care tasks that are consistent with the public health and welfare.

(2)

Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary:Paramedics or emergency medical technicians shall operate under the medical direction of a physician through two-way voice communication or pursuant to established standing orders or protocols and within the scope of their training when providing basic life support, advanced life support, and health promotion and wellness activities in a nonemergency environment. As used in this paragraph, the term “health promotion and wellness” means the provision of public health programs pertaining to the prevention of illness and injury.Paramedics and emergency medical technicians shall operate under the medical direction of a physician through two-way communication or pursuant to established standing orders or protocols and within the scope of their training when a patient is not transported to an emergency department or is transported to a facility other than a hospital as defined in s. 395.002(12).Paramedics may administer immunizations in a nonemergency environment, within the scope of their training, and under the medical direction of a physician through two-way communication or pursuant to established standing orders or protocols. There must be a written agreement between the physician providing medical direction and the department or the county health department located in each county in which the paramedic administers immunizations. This agreement must establish the protocols, policies, and procedures under which the paramedic must operate.Paramedics may provide basic life support services and advanced life support services to patients receiving acute and postacute hospital care at home as specified in the paramedic’s supervisory relationship with a physician or standing orders as described in s. 401.265, s. 458.348, or s. 459.025. A physician who supervises or provides medical direction to a paramedic who provides basic life support services or advanced life support services to patients receiving acute and postacute hospital care at home pursuant to a formal supervisory relationship or standing orders is liable for any act or omission of the paramedic acting under the physician’s supervision or medical direction when providing such services. The department may adopt and enforce rules necessary to implement this paragraph.

(a)

Paramedics or emergency medical technicians shall operate under the medical direction of a physician through two-way voice communication or pursuant to established standing orders or protocols and within the scope of their training when providing basic life support, advanced life support, and health promotion and wellness activities in a nonemergency environment. As used in this paragraph, the term “health promotion and wellness” means the provision of public health programs pertaining to the prevention of illness and injury.

(b)

Paramedics and emergency medical technicians shall operate under the medical direction of a physician through two-way communication or pursuant to established standing orders or protocols and within the scope of their training when a patient is not transported to an emergency department or is transported to a facility other than a hospital as defined in s. 395.002(12).

(c)

Paramedics may administer immunizations in a nonemergency environment, within the scope of their training, and under the medical direction of a physician through two-way communication or pursuant to established standing orders or protocols. There must be a written agreement between the physician providing medical direction and the department or the county health department located in each county in which the paramedic administers immunizations. This agreement must establish the protocols, policies, and procedures under which the paramedic must operate.

(d)

Paramedics may provide basic life support services and advanced life support services to patients receiving acute and postacute hospital care at home as specified in the paramedic’s supervisory relationship with a physician or standing orders as described in s. 401.265, s. 458.348, or s. 459.025. A physician who supervises or provides medical direction to a paramedic who provides basic life support services or advanced life support services to patients receiving acute and postacute hospital care at home pursuant to a formal supervisory relationship or standing orders is liable for any act or omission of the paramedic acting under the physician’s supervision or medical direction when providing such services. The department may adopt and enforce rules necessary to implement this paragraph.

(3)

Each physician providing medical direction to a paramedic who administers immunizations must verify and document that the paramedic has received sufficient training and experience to administer immunizations. The verification must be documented on forms developed by the department, and the completed forms must be maintained at the service location of the licensee and made available to the department upon request.

(4)

The department may adopt and enforce all rules necessary to enforce the provisions relating to a paramedic’s administration of immunizations and the performance of health promotion and wellness activities by a paramedic or emergency medical technician in a nonemergency environment.

Source: Section 401.272 — Emergency medical services community health care, https://www.­flsenate.­gov/Laws/Statutes/2024/0401.­272 (accessed Aug. 7, 2025).

401.23
Definitions
401.24
Emergency medical services state plan
401.25
Licensure as a basic life support or an advanced life support service
401.26
Vehicle permits for basic life support and advanced life support services
401.27
Personnel
401.30
Records
401.31
Inspection and examination
401.33
Exemptions
401.34
Fees
401.35
Rules
401.38
Participation in federal programs
401.41
Penalties
401.45
Denial of emergency treatment
401.211
Legislative intent
401.243
Injury prevention
401.245
Emergency Medical Services Advisory Council
401.251
Air ambulance service
401.252
Interfacility transfer
401.253
Reporting of controlled substance overdoses
401.254
Treatment of injured police canines
401.265
Medical directors
401.268
Protocols with regional poison control centers
401.271
Certification of emergency medical technicians and paramedics who are on active duty with the Armed Forces of the United States
401.272
Emergency medical services community health care
401.273
Emergency medical technician and paramedic registry for disasters and emergencies
401.281
Drivers
401.321
Transferability of license
401.345
Emergency Medical Services Trust Fund
401.411
Disciplinary action
401.414
Complaint investigation procedures
401.421
Injunctive relief
401.425
Emergency medical services quality assurance
401.435
Emergency medical responder agencies and training
401.445
Emergency examination and treatment of incapacitated persons
401.465
911 public safety telecommunicator certification
401.2101
Short title
401.2701
Emergency medical services training programs
401.2715
Recertification training of emergency medical technicians and paramedics
401.2915
Automated external defibrillators
401.2916
Educational campaign

Current through Fall 2025

§ 401.272. Emergency medical services community health care's source at flsenate​.gov