Medical Direction/Oversight Resources

The unique challenges of pediatric respiratory and airway emergencies require the development and maintenance of a prehospital quality management program that includes pediatric-focused medical oversight and clinical care expertise, data collection, operational considerations, focused education, and clinician competency evaluation. This is a NAEMSP position statement with recommendations.

Review guide for those studying for board certification exam and participating in EMS fellowship education.

A few topics relevant to the pediatric population and the PPRP Checklist includes: The Special Needs of Children (page 100); Pediatric Medical Priorities (page 102); Pediatric Trauma Priorities (page 104); Technology Dependent Children (page 106); Child Maltreatment (page 118); Ethical Challenges, Treatment of Minors (page 120); Families & Bystanders (page 124); Culture of Patient Safety (page 128); Medical Oversight of EMS Systems (page 150); EMS-Public Health Interface (page 163).

2nd Edition, 2019

NAEMSP position statement affirming that pediatric patients have unique needs that every EMS program must ensure are appropriately and reasonably met. NAEMSP believes that if the EMS medical director does not inherently possess knowledge and experience in pediatric-related EMS healthcare needs, they should engage with stakeholders that can provide EMS-appropriate guidance related to pediatric EMS healthcare needs. An EMS Pediatric Emergency Care Coordinator or an EMS System Pediatric Advisory Committee can augment and advise the EMS medical director(s) for the system or for individual EMS programs.

October 6, 2016. Taylor & Francis login needed to access full resource.

Offers guidance for out-of-hospital medical direction and the intervener physician.

Revised January 2016

The American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP), the National Association of EMS Physicians (NAEMSP), and the National Association of EMS Educators (NAEMSE) believe that changing technology, advances in research, and changing health care delivery systems, require the active involvement of knowledgeable, identifiable, and responsible physician medical directors in the provision of emergency medical services (EMS) education programs, including initial and continuing education programs.

Approved September 2016

A joint statement by the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP), the National Association of EMS Physicians (NAEMSP), and the National Association of State EMS Officials (NASEMSO).

Approved October 2016 (ACEP)

ACEP believes emergency physicians, as leaders in EMS, have a pivotal role in the integration of emergency medical services for children (EMSC). Emergency physicians impact the EMS-EMSC continuum in important ways as outlined in this policy statement.

Approved February 2018

ACEP considers EMS a practice of medicine requiring physician oversight, reaffirms its commitment to physician medical director leadership in EMS, and supports the principles outlined in this policy statement.

Approved October 2017