State health department's duties for emergency medical services

(a) In addition to other functions and duties assigned under this part, the department shall: (1) Regulate ambulances and ambulance services statewide; (2) Establish emergency medical services throughout the service area, including emergency aeromedical services, which shall meet the requirements of this part, subject to section 321-228; (3) Review and approve the curricula and syllabi of training courses offered to emergency medical services personnel statewide who provide basic, intermediate, and advanced life support, consult and coordinate with the University of Hawaii, or any other accredited community college, college, or university, or any professional organization that provides emergency medical services training, regarding the training for basic, intermediate, and advanced life support personnel, as provided in section 321-229; (4) Collect and evaluate data for the continued evaluation of the statewide emergency medical services system, subject to section 321-230; (5) Coordinate, on a statewide basis, emergency medical resources and the allocation of emergency services and facilities in the event of mass casualties, natural disasters, national emergencies, and other emergencies, ensuring linkage to local, state, and national disaster plans, and participation in exercises to test these plans; (6) Establish, administer, and maintain a communication system for the service area; (7) Assist each county in the service area in the development of a "911" emergency telephone system; (8) Secure technical assistance and other assistance and consultation necessary for the implementation of this part, subject to section 321-230; (9) Implement public information and education programs to inform the public of the statewide system and its use, and disseminate other emergency medical information, including appropriate methods of medical self-help and first-aid, and the availability of first-aid training programs statewide; (10) Establish standards and provide training for dispatchers in the state system, and maintain a program of quality assurance for dispatch equipment and operations; provided that individuals acting as dispatchers in the State as of July 1, 2022, shall obtain emergency medical dispatch certification by July 1, 2026, and shall maintain certification thereafter; (11) Establish a program that will enable emergency service personnel statewide to provide early defibrillation; (12) Establish within the department the emergency medical service system for children statewide; ( 13) Consult with the advisory committee on matters relating to the implementation of this part; and (14) Establish and maintain statewide standards for emergency medical services course instructor qualifications and statewide requirements for emergency medical services training facilities. (b) The department may assist in the implementation of a statewide poison information program, including the provision of a hospital-based poison center's services certified by the department.