James O. Page

Who was James O. Page?

James O. Page JD was recognized as a leading authority on United States emergency medical services. Page served in the Los Angeles County Fire Department for 16 years rising to the rank of Battalion Chief. In 1973 he was appointed as the first director of North Carolina's statewide EMS system. North Carolina gained a national reputation for excellence in pre-hospital care during his tenure.

During the early 1970s Jim Page served as a technical advisor for NBC Television's popular show Emergency! This program captured the US public's imagination and created a public demand for quality pre-hospital care. In 1976 Page took the leadership reins of the ACT Foundation becoming a popular public speaker, advisor, and author of topics in emergency medicine. The character of Johnny Gage, a paramedic that appeared on the series was considered to have been named in honor of Page, although the name had been changed, so as to keep in context.

Page published several books and magazines about the EMS community. He is generally recognized as the official historian of EMS.