The Emergency Medical Services Authority (EMSA) oversees emergency medical response in partnership with local emergency medical services agencies. As part of the H1N1 Novel Influenza A response team, EMSA is responsible to do the following:
Provide guidance to local EMS agencies on airborne infectious diseases, personal protective equipment, and planning for staff absenteeism due to illness.
Serve as an advisor to Governor Schwarzenegger’s administration on emergency medical response
Administer the HavBed system, in conjunction with the Department of Public Health and the U.S. Health and Human Services Agency, to evaluate the availability of hospital facilities statewide.
Prepare to deploy “Strike Teams”—Cal-MAT, Disaster Medical Strike Teams, Ambulance Strike Teams— upon request.
Administer the Disaster Healthcare Volunteers system, in partnership with Cal Volunteers, to identify and pre-certify health and medical professionals to work in case of an emergency.
If needed, deploy and manage Mobile Field Hospitals
Provide authority and training to enable paramedics to administer vaccinations under local medical control and as part of the organized emergency medical system.
Gather situational surveillance information from local EMS agencies regarding call volumes and issues of concern.
