Public Access Defibrillation (PAD)

This information pertains Chemung, Schuyler and Steuben Counties.

Public Access Defibrillation (PAD) is a program that allows for automated external defibrillators to be available to the general public. A defibrillator is a piece of equipment that gives a malfunctioning heart an electrical shock. An electrical shock can restore the heart’s normal rhythm if it’s given within minutes of sudden cardiac arrest. New York State Public Health Law Article 30, Section 3000-b allows the general public to utilize Automated External Defibrillators (AEDS) under certain conditions. This is referred to as Public Access Defibrillation (PAD). For example, an organization may wish to have key personnel such as security guards, trained in the use of AEDS. An AED analyzes the heart’s rhythm and helps treat victims of cardiac arrest.

According to Article 30, Section 3000-b, the Regional Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Councils have been designated in each region of the State to be responsible for coordinating and maintaining information and data collection and analysis as part of a Quality Assurance (QA) program for PAD utilization. The Southern Tier Regional Emergency Medical Services (STREMS) Council is the statutory body designated by the Commissioner of Health of the State of New York under Article 30 to coordinate the EMS system in the counties of Chemung, Schuyler and Steuben. If you are in a different region of New York State, check this list for your county and appropriate Regional EMS Council.

All persons or organizations within the Chemung, Schuyler and Steuben Counties wishing to provide PAD will be required to forward information and Quality Assurance data to the STREMS Council through EMSTAR (the regional Program Agency).

In order for you or your organization to begin providing PAD under this legislation, you must first do the following (see NYS DOH Policy 09-03):

1. Obtain a physician or hospital (its Chief Executive Officer or designee) to become your Emergency Health Care Provider. The physician must be licensed and have knowledge of emergency cardiac care. The hospital must be licensed under Article 28 of the Public Health Law and provide emergency cardiac care. If you do not know a physician who qualities, you can contact EMSTAR for possible suggestions.
2. Submit a written Collaborative Agreement between yourself (person or organization) and the Emergency Health Care Provider (physician or hospital Chief Executive Officer or designee) to the STREMS Council through EMSTAR. A sample collaborative agreement.pdf is provided that you may use. If you wish to develop your own, please refer to Section 3000-B of Article 30.
3. Submit information regarding all of your AEDs to the STREMS Council through EMSTAR using the form DOH-4135.pdf – Notice of Intent to Provide PAD.
4. Designate key personnel from your organization to receive training in PAD through an approved organization. You may contact the Offices of the Council to find out the names and addresses for the NYS Approved PAD curricula (American Heart Assoc., American Red Cross, American Safety and Health, Emergency Care & Safety Institute, Emergency First Response, Emergency Services Institute, EMS Safety Service Inc., Emergency University, Medic First Aid International, National Safety Council, REMSCO of NYC, Inc., State University of NY and Wilderness Medical Associates). Only New York State approved PAD curricula may be used for training.

Once your organization has completed the above process, you need to do the following:

1. Post a sign or notice at the main entrance to the facility in which the AED is stored, indicating the location of the unit
2. Inform the Regional EMS Council each time an AED is used on a patient, via a written report (Post Use Quality Assurance Report Form found at emstar.org under Public Access Defibrillation) to be completed by the care provider who utilized the AED (Provider) within five (3) days of the incident. The completed form should be mailed or emailed to EMSTAR for distribution to the Health Care Provider (physician listed on the PAD AED Notice of Intent) for review.
3. Maintain your AED equipment according to manufacturer’s standards.
4. Provide refresher training to your AED operators as required.
5. Inform the Regional EMS Council in writing, within five (5) business days if your Emergency Health Care Provider changes or resigns.

Thank you for your interest in providing early defibrillation in the STREMS region.

For PAD refresher training programs, contact

• In Steuben County call the Office of Emergency Services, 607-664-2700
• In Schuyler County contact Schuyler Ambulance through the Office of Emergency Services, 607-535-8200
• In Chemung County contact EMSTAR, 607-732-2354.