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VCEMSA Duty Officers

Emergency Medical Services

Duty Officers

The Ventura County Emergency Medical Services Agency (VCEMSA) operates under federal and state statutes and regulations, the Ventura County Public Health Department of the Ventura County Healthcare Agency. As the regulatory agency of Ventura County Emergency Medical Services, we are responsible for identifying and managing public health issues and concerns as they relate to emergency medical and disaster services.

Our goal is to provide resources and coordination with all County resources, State OES, and other mutual aide agencies; lending support to all emergency response providers.

VCEMSA objectives include:

  • Facilitate implementation of resources available to the Ventura County Emergency Medical Service Agency to all prehospital and disaster care providers in the County.
  • Monitor adherence to federal, state, and local policies and procedures.
  • Provide technical advice as needed or requested.
  • Assist the appropriate Public Information Officer in presenting complete and accurate information, as it relates to disaster and emergency medical services, to the media and general public.
  • Provide feedback to field care providers and facilitate on-scene post-incident debriefings as necessary.
  • Ensure the Director of Public of Health and Public Health Medical Doctor are advised of incidents occurring in the jurisdiction.
  • Evaluate impact of incidents as it relates to public health issues.
  • Identify public health trends.
  • Support and work in conjunction the Ventura County Sheriffs Department Office of Emergency Services.

In order to meet these responsibilities, the VCEMSA should be contacted in accordance with County EMSA Policy requirements and in any of the following situations:

  • Multi-Casualty Incidents (3 or more patients)
  • Incidents that may effect "at risk populations" (i.e.: power failure in a skilled nursing facility that may require the EMS Agency to transfer patients, provide life support system support, etc.)
  • HAZMAT Incidents that may effect the health of the general public (i.e.: any incident that may require additional reporting and public health officer involvement. Evacuation. Increased demand on EMS resources.)
  • Nuclear/Radiological Incidents (i.e.: hospital preparedness, communication with the Regional Area Disaster Medical Health Specialist, etc.)
  • Major Structural or Brush Fires (i.e.: EMSA may be able to provide assistance with the Disaster Recovery Vehicle (rescuer rehabilitation), support resources such as Care and Shelter, CISM, etc.)
  • Potential or actual Flooding or Tsunami (i.e.: hospital preparedness, communication with the Regional Area Disaster Medical Health Specialist, etc.)
  • Evacuation (i.e.: hospital preparedness, communication with the Regional Area Disaster Medical Health Specialist, etc.)
  • Potential or actual incident of Civil Unrest or Terrorism (i.e.: hospital preparedness, communication with the Regional Area Disaster Medical Health Specialist, etc.)
  • Injuries to any EMS Provider while in commission of assigned rescue and/or patient care duties. (i.e.: provide available resources, identify trends, policy review, investigation as necessary)
  • Requests for EMS Provider Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) Team.
  • Mutual Aid Requests (incident located in Ventura County) (i.e.: hospital preparedness, communication with the Regional Area Disaster Medical Health Specialist, etc.)
  • Potential EMS Provider Acts of Gross Negligence (i.e.: identify the need for immediate action or investigation, assess the impact to public health both administratively and clinically, ensure due process, etc.)
  • Upon request

When VCEMSA is notified, we will either respond to the incident or acknowledge the advisement and remain on alert until the incident or situation has been resolved.

This document is provided as a guideline, open to continuous review and ongoing development as necessary.

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