Emergency Medical Services, commonly known as EMS, is the system that responds to emergencies requiring highly skilled prehospital clinicians. It might also be known as prehospital care or ambulance services.
They might also be known as emergency squads, ambulance squads, ambulance corps, and first aid squads. However, the latter might be outdated, given that EMS personnel are trained and equipped far beyond first aid today.
Although "EMS Service" might be grammatically incorrect. Given that the "S" in "EMS" stands for "Service," the phrase "EMS Service" would read "Emergency Medical Services Service." and that would be redundant. Nevertheless, "EMS Service" is a term that is commonly used in the profession.
In most jurisdictions, EMS can be summoned directly by members of the public, usually through an emergency number, such as 9-1-1. EMS personnel commonly respond in a vehicle known as an ambulance, although other vehicles may also be used. Patients are usually transported to a hospital in an ambulance, although helicopters, boats, and fixed-wing aircraft may also be used.
When dispatched, EMS will respond to the scene of the emergency, usually arriving in an ambulance. Upon arrival, they will begin providing medical care, which may differ according to the situation's requirements or the training level of the responding personnel. Suppose the patient needs to be transported to the hospital for further care. In that case, the patient will be moved into the ambulance, generally on a wheeled stretcher, sometimes called a gurney.
This is where the level of care will differ sharply according to jurisdictional requirements or the qualification levels of the responding ambulance service. Training and qualification levels for EMS personnel vary widely worldwide and even within the United States. In some jurisdictions, particularly in parts of the developing world, ambulance personnel are qualified only to drive ambulances and are provided with little or no medical training. This was once the case in parts of the United States, which is how EMS personnel became known as "ambulance drivers," now considered an insult by highly-trained prehospital personnel.
In contrast, most EMS systems now require, at the minimum, basic first aid training, such as CPR and first aid.
In the United States and many other countries, EMS personnel are required to be certified or licensed to provide specified levels of training. Various terms and requirements are applied to these levels.
In Texas, where I was employed in several facets of Emergency Medical Services for twenty years, ambulances were licensed to operate at one of three levels: Basic Life Support (BLS), Advanced Life Support (ALS), or Mobile Intensive Care Unit (MICU). BLS Units could operate with a minimum of two Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) certified at the EMT-Basic level, who were trained to handle most medical or traumatic emergencies but could not start IVs, intubate, or administer medications. ALS Units were required to have at least one team member certified as the EMT-Intermediate level, which was once known as EMT-Special Skills, although the other EMT could be an EMT-Basic. EMS personnel assigned to an ALS Unit can perform at the BLS level but are also equipped to establish IVs, intubate, and administer some essential medications. MICU Units were required to have at least one certified (or licensed) EMT-Paramedic, although the other crew member could be an EMT-B, an EMT-I, or another EMT-P. Personnel responding in a MICU-qualified ambulance can perform at the BLS and ALS levels and can also provide a much greater level of care, which will differ from company to company, according to protocols set up by the EMS company's physician medical director.
Other states have similar requirements, although some have only two levels, which would conform to the BLS and MICU levels used in Texas. However, they might use ALS to refer to the what is the MICU level in Texas.
Depending on the jurisdiction, ambulance company, and other specifications, physicians and nurses may also provide prehospital care. This model is popular in Europe. In the United States, ambulances may also be staffed by doctors and nurses, although they generally supplement traditional ambulance crews when available. When I was a paramedic, our medical director sometimes rode out with us, and registered nurses often accompanied us. Still, they weren't regularly scheduled crew members.
Emergency medical services may be provided by various types of organizations and may differ in the levels of care and expected scope of practice. Governments regulate the EMS industry at the federal, regional, or municipal levels in most countries
Topics related to emergency medical services are appropriate for this portion of our guide.
Recommended Resources
Based in Birmingham, Alabama, AirMed is an FAA-approved fee-for-service air ambulance airline that holds accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation of Medical Transport Systems and the European Aero-medical Institute and is an accredited service provider with the International Assistance Group. Founded as MEDjet International in 1987, it was renamed AirMed International in 2003, as it operates worldwide. Its services, membership, and contacts are published on the site.
https://airmed.com/
California Emergency Medical Services Authority
EMSA is responsible for coordinating, administrating, and integrating the Emergency Medical Services system throughout California. Its mission, guiding principles, and program responsibilities are set forth, and EMS Commission members, Paramedic Disciplinary Review Board, and meeting schedules are included. Regulations open to public comment, the CA EMS System strategic plan, employment opportunities, responder levels, EMS education, and training programs are presented.
https://emsa.ca.gov/
With its aircraft strategically located in Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah, Eagle Air Med is part of the Global Medical Response family. Formed in 1981 to provide quicker medical transportation in the Four Corners states, specifically the Navajo Nation, the company was originally known as Blanding Air Ambulance. Its history, fleet, safety considerations, and an overview of its medical and aviation capabilities are set forth, along with its locations, contacts, and career opportunities.
https://www.eagleairmed.com/
Powered by the Office of EMS in the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), which provides national leadership and coordination of comprehensive, data-driven, and evidence-based emergency medical services and 911 systems. The NHTSA produces reports that serve as the basis for decisions relating to EMS at the federal, state, and local levels. The office is introduced, along with EMS in general, and important issues in EMS are discussed, with various resources provided.
https://www.ems.gov/
Utilizing an Xenforo software platform, EMT Life is an online discussion forum for Emergency Medical Technicians at all levels. While anyone can view discussion content, participation requires registration. Registration is free, but two additional premium membership levels allow for greater access, editing privileges, and other user options. Its policies, community guidelines, and other information about memberships are defined, and discussion areas include BLS discussions and ALS discussions.
https://www.emtlife.com/
Global Rescue provides integrated medical, security, travel risk, and crisis management services delivered by its teams of critical care paramedics, physicians, nurses, and military special operations veterans. Serving as a provider to government agencies, companies, universities, non-profits, and tour operators, its services, partners, and affiliates are set forth. Other resources include an overview of the company, an informational blog, career opportunities, and contacts.
https://www.globalrescue.com/
National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians
NAEMT is a US-based professional association representing Emergency Medical Technicians and Paramedics. Formed in 1975, NAEMT represents the professional interests of paramedics, advanced emergency medical technicians, emergency medical technicians, emergency medical responders, and other professionals providing prehospital and out-of-hospital emergency care. Its mission, values, and strategies are defined, and the organization's and EMS's history is included.
https://www.naemt.org/
National Association of EMS Physicians
The NAEMSP was founded in 1984 to serve as a resource and advocate for Emergency Medical Service (EMS) physicians and EMS professionals and has grown to represent thousands of physicians, paramedics, nurses, administrators, educators, researchers, and key EMS personnel. Its leadership, strategic partners, advocacy agendas, annual reports, career development information, upcoming events, and membership information are featured, and staff contacts are provided.
https://naemsp.org/
National EMS Information System
Commonly known by its acronym - NEMSIS - the national EMS database stores Emergency Medical Service data from states and territories across the United States, serving as a universal standard for collecting patient care information from an emergency 9-1-1 call for assistance. Its history, goals, and an overview of the system are provided, including instructions for using the data. Reports may be viewed online, and technical resources, calls, and training are provided.
https://nemsis.org/
National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians
The NREMT is a United States certification agency covering prehospital medical providers. Established in 1970, it uses the National Standard Curriculum as defined by the U.S. Department of Transportation National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. NREMT recognizes four levels of Emergency Medical Services: EMR, EMT, Advanced EMT, and Paramedic, although some states have additional requirements. Credentials may be verified through the site, and a media kit is available.
https://www.nremt.org/
Founded in 2010 to improve access to emergency services for at-risk and vulnerable populations, working with ambulance providers and EMS agencies in Latin America through training, medical equipment, and consultations, the company launched its Beacon prototype software in 2012 to allow response agencies to alert, coordinate, and track emergency responders via mobile phones, which later became an emergency dispatch platform, featured here, with online signups available.
https://trekmedics.org/
