Responsibilities: The physician shall be knowledgeable in aeromedical

Responsibilities: The physician shall be knowledgeable in aeromedical physiology, stresses of flight, aircraft safety, patient care, and resource limitations of the aircraft, medical staff, and equipment. The medical director shall be actively involved in the care of the critically ill and/or injured patient. #21600 1. The off-line medical director shall have access to consult with medical specialists for patient(s) whose illness and care needs are outside his/her area of practice. The medical director must have education experience in those areas of medicine that are commensurate with the mission statement of the medical transport service or utilize specialty physicians as consultants when appropriate. 2. The off-line medical director shall ensure that there is a comprehensive plan/policy to address selection of appropriate aircraft, staffing, and equipment. 3. The off-line medical director shall be involved in the selection, hiring, training and continuing education of all medical personnel. The medical director is actively involved in the hiring process, training, and continuing education of all medical personnel for the service that includes involvement in skills labs, medical protocol or guideline changes or additions. 4. The off-line medical director shall be responsible for overseeing the development and maintenance of a quality assurance or a continuous quality improvement program. The medical director is actively involved in the quality management program for the service. 5. The off-line medical director shall ensure that there is a plan to provide direction of patient care to the air medical personnel during transport. The system shall include on-line (radio/telephone) medical control, and/or an appropriate system for off-line medical control such as written guidelines, protocols, procedures patient specific written orders or standing orders. The medical director should maintain an open communication system with referring and accepting physicians and be accessible for concerns expressed by referring and accepting physicians regarding controversial issues and patient management. 6. The off-line medical director shall participate in any administrative decision- making processes that affects patient care. The medical director is actively involved in administrative decisions affecting medical care or the service. 7. The off-line medical director will ensure that there is an adequate method for on- line medical control, and that there is a well-defined plan or procedure and resources in place to allow off-line medical control. The medical director is actively involved in orienting physicians providing online medical direction according to the policies, procedures, and patient care protocols of the medical transport service. 8. In the case where written policies are instituted for medical control, the off-line medical director will oversee the review, revision, and validation of them annually. The medical director sets and annually reviews medical guidelines for current accepted medical practice, and medical guidelines are in a written format. 9. The plan for medical control must be submitted to BEMS at least 30 days prior to the service start date for approval by BEMS and the State EMS Medical Director. 10. Revisions in the medical control plan must be submitted prior to implementation. At a minimum, medical control plans shall be resubmitted to BEMS every three (3) years. 11. The transport service will know the capabilities and resources of receiving facilities and will transport patients to appropriate facilities within the service region based on direct referral, approved EMS plan, or services available when no direction is provided. Whenever possible, services that respond directly to the scene will transport patients to the nearest appropriate hospital.