Dr. Paula Whiteman Joins EMA’s Physician Leadership Team as Director of Pediatric Emergency Services
Addition of Dr. Whiteman’s Leadership and Unique Expertise Expands EMA’s Commitment to the Communities It Serves
(July 12, 2010, Los Angeles, CA) Emergent Medical Associates (“EMA” or the “Group”) is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Paula Whiteman as Pediatric Emergency Services Director. Dr. Whiteman, a residency trained, board certified physician in emergency and pediatric emergency medicine, was the past President for the Los Angeles Pediatric Society (LAPS). She currently serves as the co-chair for the Committee on Pediatric Emergency Medicine (COPEM), which is a joint committee of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) California, Chapter 2 and LAPS. She is also a member-at-large for the AAP California, Chapter 2 and serves on the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) national COPEM.
In her new role, Dr. Whiteman will lead EMA’s efforts to ensure pediatric cases receive appropriate treatment in our Emergency Departments. In performing this role, she will guide the group’s efforts in qualifying our hospitals for Emergency Department Approved for Pediatrics (EDAP) certification. Dr. Whiteman will oversee the development of guidelines, policies and procedures and will be responsible for establishing suggestive guidelines at all sites, including color coordinated medication guide sheets and difficult airway management. Dr. Whiteman will also work with the EMA Medical Directors to help them meet the state guidelines as described in Emergency Medical Services Authority published policy #182, which is “Administration, Personnel and Policy for the Care of Pediatric Patients in the Emergency Department.”
“We are pleased that Dr. Whiteman has joined the leadership team at EMA,” said Dr. Irv Edwards, Founder and Chairman of EMA. “Her track record in pediatric emergency medicine, unique qualifications and clinical expertise are valuable assets to the Group.”
Dr. Mark Bell, President of EMA added, “Dr. Whiteman will be very instrumental in implementing progressive pediatric medical operations at the emergency departments that we manage. We hope to establish the EMA as not only a leader in emergency medicine but also as a premier provider of pediatric emergency medical services.”
“I am excited to join the leadership team and further my commitment to providing the highest quality patient care," said Dr. Whiteman. “I look forward to working with one of the brightest physician leadership teams in emergency medicine and continuing to build on the tradition of clinical as well as operational excellence at EMA.”
About Paula Whiteman, MD, FACEP, FAAP
Dr. Whiteman began her career at EMA as an emergency physician at Encino-Tarzana Regional Medical Center in 2000. She is still working clinically at the emergency department of Providence Tarzana Medical Center and acts as the EDAP Medical Director and Pediatric Liaison.
Dr. Whiteman received the AAP Special Achievement Award in 2005 and 2009. This is a national award bestowed by the American Academy of Pediatrics for outstanding AAP work and was in recognition of her contributions to Pediatric Emergency Medicine. She was the medical advisor for the movie “The Bucket List” and volunteered as a camp doctor at Wilshire Boulevard Temple’s Camp Hess Kramer and Gindling Hilltop Camp in Malibu.
About Emergent Medical Associates
EMA, headquartered in Manhattan Beach, CA, is a premier provider of physician staffing and practice management services for 18 Emergency Departments and 2 Urgent Care Centers that treat over 600,000 patients annually throughout California. EMA‘s comprehensive system of ED and UCC management is based on over 100 combined years of healthcare experience. Through its management company, Pacific HealthWorks, EMA exports best practices and innovative management techniques to Hospitals, Urgent Care Centers and other Emergency Department groups, helping improve patient care and ensure contract security. EMA's proprietary techniques are patient-focused and targeted on improving the daily operations of ED’s and UCC’s.
For more information on EMA, visit http://www.ema.us
For more information on PHW, visit http://www.pacifichealthworks.com
Company Contact:
Sandra Davis
Emergent Medical Associates
(310)-379-2134
sdavis@ema.us