Medical Command for the City of Pittsburgh Bureau of EMS is provided by physicians from the University of Pittsburgh, School of Medicine, Department of Emergency Medicine.  In Pittsburgh, Emergency Medicine residents/EMS fellows from the Residency in Emergency Medicine at the University of Pittsburgh, provide medical direction for all ALS calls in the city. Emergency Medicine faculty members from the Department of Emergency Medicine also provide on line supervision and backup via radio.

Emergency Medicine residents/ EMS fellows respond to specific EMS calls 24 hours per day. These EMS physician responds to all calls that might require complicated airway management, cardiac arrests, major fires, entrapment, MCIs. Paramedics may also request the physician for other calls as well.

Mission Statement

To maintain a constant state of readiness, to provide expeditious and appropriate advanced care
in your time of need. To share our specialized knowledge with other health care professionals
and to continually maintain an Emergency Medical Services system that is responsive to the
needs of our City.

Medical Directors (MDOCs)

Ron Roth, M.D. serves as the Medical Director for the City of Pittsburgh, Department of Public Safety. Paul Paris, M.D. is the Senior Medical Consultant. The Medical Direction Committee includes:
Vince Mosesso, Jr., M.D., Scott Harrington, M.D.

 David Hostler, Ph.D. coordinates EMS research.

Pittsburgh Bureau of EMS

Pittsburgh EMS is municipal third service. The Bureau consists of over 170 paramedics  staffing approximately 14 ALS units,  2 rescue vehicles, 2 District Chief vehicles and a River rescue unit.  The service responds to over 55,000 calls per year.  For more information, please see the EMS web site at http://www.city.pittsburgh.pa.us/ems/

First Responder Engine Companies from the Bureau of Fire respond on selected high priority calls.  The Engines carry automatic defibrillators.

Requests for Public Safety assistance are received at the Emergency Operations Center (911 Center). EMS calls are prioritized using the Medical Priority Dispatch System. Telecommunications officers at the Emergency Operations Center provide pre-arrival instructions to callers.