Incident Command System: Physician Interface and Familiarization

Trainer
Richard L. Alcorta, MD, FACEP
Maryland State EMS Medical Director, Maryland Institute for Emergency Medical Systems Services

Description
Dr. Alcorta explains the basics of the Incident Command System, focusing particularly on the role of physicians in the system.

Trainer Biography
Richard Alcorta, MD, FACEP, is a board-certified emergency medicine physician and, as an Anne Arundel County resident, represents the EMS-knowledgeable county physicians. He started his emergency medical services (EMS) career as an emergency medical technician (ambulance) and went on to become a paramedic in California. He received his bachelor of science degree at San Diego State University and, in 1983, graduated from Howard University School of Medicine. Dr. Alcorta completed his Emergency Medicine Residency at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center and in 1986, he became a faculty member of the Emergency Department at Johns Hopkins Medical Center. He has practiced emergency medicine at Suburban Hospital Shock Trauma Center since 1987. From 1992 to 1994, he was the state EMS director and in 1995 was appointed as the state EMS medical director at Maryland Institute for Emergency Medical Services Systems (MIEMSS). He is the director of the Chemical Stockpile Emergency Preparedness Program (CSEPP) and the state medical director. Dr. Alcorta has spoken as a subject-matter expert at National CSEPP and National Disaster Medical System (NDMS) conferences.

Special Thanks
Special thanks must be given to Fernando Tosti and other personnel of the Maryland Institute for Emergency Medical Systems Services (MIEMSS). MIEMSS is mandated by Maryland state law to be the lead organization responsible for coordinating Maryland's statewide emergency medical services (EMS) system. Maryland's EMS system is built on the integration of diverse organizations and professionals striving for a single goal, to save the lives of critically injured or ill patients. Through the cooperation of prehospital care providers (both volunteer and career, fire and EMS, and police agencies), hospital administrators, physicians, nurses, government officials and agency personnel, Maryland has developed one of the premier EMS systems in the world. More information about MIEMSS may be found at http://www.miemss.org.