Physician at the scene of an emergency.

Growth and maturation in the delivery of prehospital emergency medical care has been dramatic in the past 15 years. The increased availability and use of emergency medical services (EMS) has led to more frequent interactions between providers of prehospital care and the medical practitioner. This paper reviews the training and capabilities of emergency medical personnel and introduces the issue of medical control at the scene of an emergency. Also presented are the basics of emergency scene and victim stabilization. Physicians can help improve prehospital care by becoming familiar with local EMS capabilities and personnel.