Who oversees the Quality Assurance Program?

• A. The City Health Commissioner
• B. A designated QA committee
• C. An EMS MD or SEMSV MD
• D. The Regional Emergency Management Director

Answer: (C)

Quality assurance in EMS centers on ensuring safe, evidence-based patient care under medical direction. The EMS Medical Director (or SEMSV Medical Director) holds the ultimate responsibility for the clinical oversight of the QA program. This means they define the medical standards, approve the QA plan, review chosen cases and performance data, authorize any corrective actions, and ensure ongoing education and system-wide improvement. A designated QA committee or QA coordinators may handle day-to-day activities, but the medical director maintains accountability and final authority over clinical quality. The other roles don’t carry the same authority over clinical standards and patient-care governance: the City Health Commissioner oversees public health functions, the regional emergency management director handles regional preparedness and incident management, and a QA committee alone doesn’t have the medical authority to govern clinical practice.