EMS medical directors are licensed physicians whose licenses to practice medicine are issued and overseen by the CMB. Consequently, CDPHE has no authority to take licensure actions against these physicians.
However, CDPHE has some oversight authority/responsibilities concerning EMS medical directors and can refer complaints about physicians’ performance as EMS medical directors to the CMB. Whether CDPHE has ever referred an EMS medical director to the CMB based on complaints received concerning the medical director’s practice is unknown. Moreover, staff is unaware of any instance wherein the CMB has taken disciplinary action against the license of an EMS medical director.
The panel expressed concern that CDPHE’s practice may have been limited to referring only egregious cases of medical director negligence or misconduct to the CMB. In order to ensure consistent medical director practice and protect the health and safety of Colorado EMS consumers, the panel recommends that CDPHE revise its policy to ensure that it refers complaints from any source to the CMB, including complaints that may not appear to be egregious but do raise valid concerns about the medical director’s practice.