Medical Direction Team

 

Medical Direction is a system of physician-directed quality assurance that provides professional and public accountability for medical care provided in the pre-hospital setting. In an emergency medical services (EMS) system, medical direction provides the operational framework and authorization for EMTs and others to provide emergency treatment outside the hospital. Ultimate responsibility and authority for patient care remains with the physician, as EMTs work as an extension of the physician’s practice. Quality improvement is important and should be developed through clear delegation of authority and responsibility for the specific components of medical direction to appropriate individuals.


Medical direction is an essential component of a pre-hospital care system. It is a method of ensuring quality and accountability of the care provided and thus provides a method of risk management for the system.


They provide direction for EMT education, system requirements in Baldwin, and online communications for questions EMS Staff may have from the field.


Baldwin Area EMS medical direction is provided by a team of Emergency Medicine Physicians at Baldwin Area Medical Center.

 

                                                                                      

Joseph Wahlberg, MD


Education/Training: MD-University of Minnesota
Residency in Emergency Medicine - Regions Hospital, St. Paul, MN
Certifications: American Board of Emergency Medicine