Medical Control

Abstract

MEDICAL control is a system of physician-directed quality assurance that provides professional and public accountability for medical care provided in the prehospital setting. In an emergency medical services (EMS) system, medical control provides the operational framework and authorization for paramedics and other physician extenders to provide emergency treatment outside the hospital.¹1 Ultimate responsibility and authority for patient care remain with the physician.^1-4Medical control and quality assurance are viewed by some as bureaucratic restrictions required to appease governmental officials and the public. However, quality assurance should be developed through clear delegation of authority and responsibility for the specific components of medical control to appropriate individuals. The National Research Councils' Subcommittee on Medical Control in EMS Systems defines three basic functions of medical control: (1) to ensure that field personnel have immediately available expert direction for emergency care, (2) to ensure continuing highquality field performance, and (3) to