Physician Medical Direction of Emergency Medical Services Education Programs
Reaffirmed October 2008 by the ACEP Board of Directors
Reaffirmed October 2002 by the ACEP Board of Directors
Approved by the ACEP Board of Directors January 1997
As an adjunct to this policy statement, ACEP's Emergency Medical Services Committee developed a Policy Resource Education Paper (PREP), Physician Medical Direction of EMS Education Programs.
The American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) and the National Association of EMS Physicians (NAEMSP) 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. The role of the physician medical director of an EMS education program is:
to approve the medical and academic qualifications of the faculty, the accuracy of the medical content, and the accuracy and quality of medical instruction given by the faculty; to routinely review student performance and progress and attest that the students have achieved the desired level of competence prior to graduation; and
to have a significant role in faculty selection and curriculum development, authority over presentation of medical content, and authority to assure that faculty teach established medical practices.
The physician medical director's qualifications should include:
knowledge of current EMS scope of practice and legislation relating to education programs;
training and experience in emergency care delivery and medical direction of EMS systems; and
appropriate credentials attesting to experience in coordinating and teaching related education programs.