The Authority
Michigan law places medical oversight of every emergency medical services system with a medical control authority. Under Part 209 of the Public Health Code, the Berrien County Medical Control Authority is designated by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services to provide medical direction for prehospital care throughout Berrien County. The Authority exists to support the county's EMS agencies and clinicians: it maintains the written protocols under which they practice, provides physician oversight and consultation to the system, and supports the county's prehospital quality improvement program.
Protocols
Protocols are developed with the participation of the county's EMS system under the procedures established by MDHHS in MCL 333.20919. Each new or substantively revised protocol is posted for a 60 day review and comment period so that every affected agency and provider can help shape it, submitted to the state for approval, and adopted by the Board before taking effect. Adopted protocols serve as the physician's standing orders under which EMS providers practice, giving every licensed clinician in the county a clear and common foundation for patient care.
Medical direction
Jonathan Beyer, DO, FAEMS, serves as Medical Director of the Authority and is responsible for medical control of the Berrien County EMS system under MCL 333.20918. Medical direction exists so that no provider practices alone: every clinician in the system operates with physician backing, from standing orders through real time consultation.
Quality improvement
The Authority maintains a quality improvement program under protocol 8-27, including a professional standards review organization subgroup established under MCL 331.531. The program monitors system trends through quality metrics and supports clinicians and agencies in improving prehospital care. Peer review materials are confidential as provided by law.
Contact
Berrien County Medical Control Authority
info@berrienmca.org