Handbook For Ems Medical Directors

The position of an emergency medical services (EMS) agency medical director allows the opportunity for a physician to become engaged in the unique and ever-evolving realm of out-of-hospital care, a clinical practice offering a distinct set of challenges, and rewarding impacts in improving a communityÕs emergency medical care abilities. For most, the driving force behind the desire to become an EMS agency medical director stems from a deep passion for helping patients in times of marked acute medical need whenever and wherever the need appears. Yet, understanding the nuances involved in the oversight and direction of an EMS agency requires specialized knowledge, skills, and abilities beyond the typical curriculum of emergency medicine or alternative acute care medical practices. It is for this precise reason that EMS has been recently recognized by the American Board of Medical Specialties as a formal physician subspecialty.

The purpose of this handbook is to provide assistance to both new and experienced medical directors as they strive to provide the highest quality of out-of-hospital emergency medical care to their communities and foster excellence within their agencies. The handbook will provide the new medical director with a fundamental orientation to the roles that define the position of the medical director while providing the experienced medical director with a useful reference tool. The handbook will explore the nuances found in the EMS industry-a challenge to describe in generalities due to the tremendous amount of diversity among EMS agencies and systems across the Nation. The handbook does not intend to serve as an operational medical practice document, but seeks to identify and describe the critical elements associated with the position.

This handbook provides a baseline overview of key roles and responsibilities to assist current and prospective medical directors in performing their important missions.

Emergency Medical Services: Clinical Practice and Systems Oversight is the official textbook of the National Association of EMS PhysiciansTM (NAEMSPTM) National EMS Medical Directors Course and PracticumTM. Now paired with a companion website featuring self-assessment exercises, audio and video clips of EMS best practices in action, and more, this essential study aid guides students through the core knowledge they need to successfully complete their training and begin their careers as EMS physicians. Emergency Medical Services: Clinical Practice and Systems Oversight consists of: Volume 1: Clinical Aspects of EMS Volume 2: Medical Oversight of EMS Companion website featuring supportive self-assessment exercises, audio and video clips

A concise discussion of the fundamentals of medical oversight prepared by ACEP's EMS Section members. Content provides an overview of EMS medical direction including the role of out-of-hospital care providers, medical facility categorization, governmental EMS administration, EMS operational components, on-line and off-line medical direction, authority and responsibilities of the EMS medical director, and medical-legal issues. New sections included in this updated edition cover air medical transport, global positioning systems, and AEDs. Three comprehensive appendixes include all current ACEP policy statements related to EMS and up-to-date lists, including web site addresses, for federal agencies and national organizations with specific EMS-related responsibilities and activities.