EMS Council

Chapter 97 of the Milwaukee County Ordinances governs the EMS System. Chapter 97 identifies an EMS Council, chaired by one of the County Board Members to assist the Section of EMS and other emergency medical providers within the county. Assistance shall include: planning, review and evaluation of EMS; making recommendations regarding the operation of the EMS delivery systems to the Section of EMS and to the Health and Human Needs Committee of the County Board of Supervisors; recommending policy relating to the coordination, oversight, and delivery of EMS within the county; and acting as the coordinating body for all pertinent local, state, or federal grant applications pertaining to the provision of EMS.

Duties & Powers

1. Advise, assist, coordinate, and recommend approval to the section of emergency medical services on matters relating to the county-wide plan for emergency medical services;
2. Act as the county's coordinating, approval, and resource agency, under state and regional plans for emergency medical services;
3. Evaluate the comprehensive system for delivery of services covered by the state plan, including determining, evaluating effectiveness, and establishing priorities in meeting such needs;
4. Forward recommendations to the committee on health and human needs or other appropriate county committees regarding needs of the emergency medical services program; status of existing programs designed to meet those needs; and new programs and services which may be needed to meet the county's needs;
5. Review pertinent data and projections to help in the county planning process;
6. Indicate need for particular legislation and make available to the county board, through the committee on health and human needs or other appropriate committees, information and research relating to the effects of proposed legislation;
7. Assist in obtaining technical assistance for service providers;
8. Act as the mechanism through which the general public is able to be heard on any and all issues relating to the provision and functioning of emergency medical care in the community;
9. Report activities to the county board and the committee on health and human needs, county executive, and all Milwaukee County municipalities, as required; and
10. Provide administrative and clerical support to the council.

Medical Advisory Committee

The emergency medical services committee of the medical society of Milwaukee County serves as the medical advisory committee to the Milwaukee County EMS Council

Council Membership

The council is made up of twenty-on (21) voting members and two (2) ex-officio members who shall have the experience, background, and interest in emergency medical services. Members are appointed by the county executive and apporved by the county board. Members of the council shall include:

1. One (1) representative of Milwaukee County's division of emergency management
2. Two (2) fire chiefs from suburban municipalities hosting paramedic unit services
3. Two (2) fire chiefs from municipalities providing only BLS or PFR services
4. The fire chief from the City of Milwaukee, or a designee
5. One (1) county board supervisor who shall be appointed by the county executive and who shall serve as the council's presiding officer
6. Five (5) community representatives
7. The medical director of Milwaukee County's EMS system (ex-officio)
8. One (1) physician recommended by the medical society's EMS committee
9. Two (2) private providers of emergency medical services
10. One (1) representative of the Wisconsin hospital association's metropolitan office
11. Two (2) licensed paramedics active in the county's delivery of emergency medical services
12. Two (2) representatives of the intergovernmental cooperation council
13. Director of Milwaukee County's health related programs (ex-officio)
14. One (1) representative from Milwaukee area technical college's basic life support education program

Standing Committees:

• Operations
• Medical Advisory (Medical Society of Milwaukee)
• Quality Assessment and Improvement
• Public Education
• Executive