Who is ultimately responsible for authorizing EMTs to perform emergency medical care in the field?

• A. Emergency department physician on scene
• B. Public safety officer
• C. Paramedic program coordinator
• D. Medical director

Answer: (D)

Medical control gives EMTs the authority to provide care, and the person who assigns and oversees those permissions is the medical director of the EMS system. The medical director, typically a physician, creates the protocols and standing orders that tell EMTs what they can do in the field and how to obtain on-line orders when needed. EMTs then work under that authority through these established protocols and direct medical control. An emergency department physician on scene isn’t the system-wide authorizer for all field care, and a paramedic program coordinator is responsible for training and certification, not field authorization. A public safety officer doesn’t grant medical authorization either. So the medical director is the final authority responsible for authorizing emergency medical care in the field.