Medical Direction
NASEMSO Leadership
A comprehensive EMS system evidences an organizational structure that supports all aspects of both administrative and medical function. The qualifications, actual role and extent of involvement of EMS medical directors is inconsistently defined and applied across the country. There is no specialty certification by the American Board of Medical Specialties for EMS medical director. Not all EMS agencies even have a medical director and among those that do, the medical director may not even be an EMS physician. Further, there is often no state-level counterpart to a local EMS medical director.
NASEMSO supports movement toward identification of a uniform role for EMS medical directors, the creation of a board specialty or subspecialty in EMS medical direction, and the appointment of state medical directors in every state EMS office.
Medical Directors Committee
The qualifications, actual role and extent of involvement of EMS medical directors is inconsistently defined and applied across the country. There is no specialty certification by the American Board of Medical Specialties for EMS medical director. Not all EMS agencies even have a medical director and among those that do, the medical director may not even be an EMS physician. Further, there is often no state-level counterpart to a local EMS medical director.
NASEMSO, in concert with ACEP and NAEMSP, has produced a joint position paper on the role of state medical direction in the comprehensive EMS system. This document contains a recommended position description and scope of authority for state EMS medical directors.
NASEMSO supports movement toward identification of a uniform role for EMS medical directors, the creation of a board specialty or subspecialty in EMS medical direction, and the appointment of state medical directors in every state EMS office.