Index
Abstract
Dedication
Preface
Definition of EMS for this Document
Federal Agencies Can Help Advance EMS Research
Executive Summary
Introduction
History of EMS Research
The Present State of EMS Research

• Appeals for Advancement
• Peer Review Journals
• Methodological Constraints and Concerns
• Current Literature in EMS
• Research Domains
  • Clinical Research
  • Systems Research
  • Education

Overcoming the Barriers to EMS Research
Summary
Appendix A: The National EMS Research Agenda Writing Team
Appendix B: Organizations Invited to Participate in the National Review Team
Appendix C: Ethical Standards and IRB Requirements
Appendix D Inclusion Of Women And Minorities In Research Study Populations Involving Human Subjects
Inclusion Of Children As Participants In Research Involving Human Subjects
Appendix E: Bibliographic List of Internet Links
Appendix F: Published EMS Randomized Clinical Trials
References

The Present State of EMS Research

Appeals for Advancement

EMS research is still in an early stage of maturation. A concerted effort to improve the scant scientific knowledge that serves as the basis for EMS practice is now mandatory.^1,52 There has been a strong plea for improving the science within the field.⁵³ The leaders of the Future of Emergency Medicine Research conference, sponsored by the Emergency Medicine Foundation, the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine, and the Association for Academic Chairs of Emergency Medicine, emphasized the need for individual and program commitment to the process of advancing research in emergency medicine. The conference report called for the necessary resources to enhance emergency medicine research through training, academia, funding, national support, multi-center research and development of new outcome measures.⁵⁴

The Society for Academic Emergency Medicine EMS Task Force published a paper in 1999 entitled EMS Systems: Foundations for the Future, which called for the specialty of emergency medicine to foster the continued development of EMS administration, education, and research.⁵² The report pointed out, �The benefits of prehospital care never have been demonstrated scientifically in many medical and surgical conditions. The time has come to prove the value of field care and determine the most cost-effective and medically sound treatments.�⁵⁵