The EMS medical director or medical oversight physician is the physician responsible for the patient care provided by an EMS system. EMS systems have been around since the 70’s and, as they developed, all states began to require some level of physician medical oversight — at least at the advanced EMT level.
It amazes me that some states still lack a statewide EMS physician medical director (including my own state)! Sure, you could argue that there were very few EMS savvy docs back in the early development of EMS. However, as our systems evolved, so did the EMS physician. Some were initiated through their interest and participation in EMS, some via their training program in emergency medicine, and some started out as EMTs, but all had the desire to become partners in the patient care provided by their EMS system. And do not forget the countless number of local medical doctors that have agreed to provide medical oversight to their ambulance services, despite having busy clinical practices and little or no background in EMS. They do this as another commitment to their community and their family.
A couple of things have made 2007 an important year for EMS medical direction. Two more states have hired their first statewide EMS medical director! This important step forward will strengthen the statewide leadership for EMS in these states.
The other is the completion of an online basic training program for medical oversight physicians who need an introduction to EMS and/or an overview of their responsibilities as a medical director. The course should be available online by mid 2008 and will give even the most isolated physicians an opportunity to learn the basics. The National Association of EMS Physicians will host the program on their website www.naemsp.org.
EMS systems benefit from the involvement of a physician interested in EMS who recognizes the patient care potential from that association. Whether the physician brings EMS knowledge and background with them or whether they pick it up as they go along, both can be successful as medical directors who will positively impact their EMS system and, ultimately, the patient.
