Dedicated and qualified medical direction is required to ensure safe and quality patient care. Medical direction is a fundamental element of the emergency medical services (EMS) system. As defined by the National Association of EMS Physicians, EMS medical oversight is "the ultimate responsible authority for the medical actions taken by a prehospital provider or EMS system and the process of performing actions to ensure that care provided by EMS personnel is appropriate."
EMS medical oversight is a cooperative effort requiring other physicians, nurses and EMS personnel working together for the EMS system to be effective. The EMS medical director is a critical component of the EMS system in Indiana.
The following links are resources for EMS medical directors, prospective EMS medical directors, and all who are interested in the process and best practices of medical direction.