Medical direction can be defined as a physician directing the medical care provided by others, such as ambulance personnel. This direction is sometimes in the form of “standing orders”, that is, protocols and procedures that can be followed at the discretion of the health care provider. It also takes the form of “on-line” medical direction, which means that the health care provider calls the physician for permission to perform a particular procedure on a patient, or to get advice about how to handle a particular medical problem.

Model Pediatric Protocols: 2003 Revision (not a U.S. government website). The model pediatric protocols developed by the National Association of EMS Physicians provide a basis for medical direction to create or refine existing protocols to meet local, regional, and state needs. In this manner, the protocols set forth a standardized approach to pediatric treatment that can be employed by a wide variety of EMS systems. The ultimate authority for prehospital patient care rests with medical direction and the state EMS agency. The Model Pediatric Protocols appear in Prehospital Emergency Care, Volume 8, Issue 4 , October-December 2004, pages 343-365.

New York State Department of Health (not a U.S. government website). On May 31, 1995, the New York State Department of Health, Bureau of Emergency Medical Services issued Policy Statement # 95-01: Medical Control. The statement’s objective is to define the roles and responsibilities of the service, the service medical director, the Regional EMS Council, and the Regional Emergency Medical Advisory Committee in relation to this topic. This policy was intended to provide assistance to EMS agencies and physician medical directors so that they would better understand medical direction at the agency level. The current policy, issued on May 16, 2003, is intended to clarify and expand upon the definitions contained in the previous directive. It covers such topics as: Selecting an EMS Medical Director, Selecting an Emergency Health Care Provider (ECP) for Public Access Defibrillation or Epinephrine Auto Injector Programs, and Responsibilities of a Public Access Defibrillation Program ECP.

National Library of Medicine PubMed journal article database

Medical direction for families and caregivers can be interpreted to mean the relationship between doctor and patient. Numerous resources are available, both in print and on-line, to assist families in communicating with physicians. Information written by physicians about what to do in an emergency is also available.

American Academy of Pediatrics (not a U.S. government website)

• Health Care Visit Check List (not a U.S. government website).This one-page document provides families with information about how to choose and communicate with a health care provider and advice about what to do in an emergency.