Which individuals oversee the Quality Assurance Program?

• A. An internal QA committee
• B. The City Health Commissioner
• C. The Regional Medical Director
• D. An EMS MD or SEMSV MD

Answer: (D)

The main idea here is who holds medical oversight and accountability for improving patient care in an EMS system. The person who oversees the Quality Assurance program is the EMS Medical Director, or System EMS Medical Director. This physician has official authority and responsibility for clinical standards across the entire EMS system. They establish medical policies and protocols, set the performance metrics used to measure care, review adverse events and outcomes, and authorize education and corrective actions. The internal QA committee carries out reviews, data collection, and quality activities under the Medical Director’s direction, but it is not the entity that holds ultimate oversight. A City Health Commissioner focuses on public health duties rather than EMS QA oversight, and a Regional Medical Director may coordinate regional activities, but the formal, system-wide QA oversight rests with the EMS Medical Director or SEMS Medical Director.