In EMS governance, which term is most closely associated with the overarching structure of care delivery processes?

• A. System Design
• B. Quality Assurance
• C. Medical Control Board
• D. Field Triage

Answer: (A)

Think about how an EMS system is built—the blueprint that defines how patients move through care from the first 911 contact to handoff at the hospital. This overarching structure of care delivery processes is System Design. It sets up the framework for resources, roles, workflows, dispatch, transport, interagency coordination, data systems, and governance rules that ensure the whole system works together smoothly.

Quality Assurance focuses on evaluating and improving performance after care has been delivered, auditing records, and addressing deviations. The Medical Control Board provides medical oversight and clinical direction for patient care, but it doesn’t define the entire system’s structure. Field Triage concerns prioritizing patients in the field to allocate resources efficiently, not the overall framework of how care is organized.