Governor Schwarzenegger Names Chris Van Gorder to state Commission on Emergency Medical Services

California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has named Scripps Health President and CEO Chris Van Gorder to the Commission on Emergency Medical Services.

Van Gorder is a member of the California Hospital Association Board of Directors’ Executive Committee and immediate past chair of the Healthcare Association of San Diego and Imperial Counties. This position does not require Senate confirmation and there is no salary.
“I am honored to be selected by Gov. Schwarzenegger to serve California on the Emergency Medical Services Commission,” Van Gorder said. “With two trauma centers in the Scripps system, I hope to represent the concerns and interests of all hospitals and health care providers who truly are on the front lines of emergency response and disaster preparedness.”

The Commission on Emergency Medical Services advises the California Emergency Medical Services Authority (EMSA) in its mission to ensure quality patient care through an effective statewide system of coordinated emergency medical care, injury prevention and disaster medical response. The EMSA Authority is also responsible for leadership in developing and implementing EMSA systems throughout California and setting standards for the training and scope of practice of various levels of EMSA personnel. The California Legislature established EMSA in 1980 and it began operations in 1981. Scripps has been a leader in emergency response and disaster planning.

In 2005, Van Gorder formed the Scripps Medical Response Team and led 70 Scripps physicians, nurses and support staff to Houston at the request of the U.S. Public Health Service to provide medical aid to displaced survivors of Hurricane Katrina.He also has established a Scripps office of disaster preparedness to commit the organization to sustained emergency planning.Personally, Van Gorder is a Reserve Lieutenant with the San Diego Sheriff’s Department in charge of the Search and Rescue Medical Unit. In that role, he is always on-call and frequently joins search and rescue missions. He began his career as a police officer in Los Angeles County.