The American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP), the National Association of EMS Physicians (NAEMSP), andthe National Association of State EMS Directors (NASEMSD) believe that physician medical direction at the state level is an essential component of emergency medical services (EMS) systems. The state EMS medical director provides medical aspects of leadership, oversight, coordination, access to best practices, system quality management, andresearch to ensure the safest andhighest-quality care for patients. The state EMS medical director completes the comprehensive EMS system that begins at the local level with the individual EMS medical director.
State EMS medical direction requires political, administrative, andfinancial support to achieve these goals. Ideally, the state EMS medical director will be a board-certified emergency medicine physician. ACEP, NAEMSP, andNASEMSD support the establishment of a regular full-time position for a state EMS medical director in all states andU.S. territories.