FAQs

Emergency Medical Services, more commonly known as EMS, is a system that provides emergency medical care. It is activated by a call for help, after an incident of serious illness or injury. The focus of EMS is emergency medical care of the patient(s). EMS is most easily recognized when emergency vehicles or helicopters are seen responding to emergency incidents. But EMS is much more than a ride to the hospital. It is a system of coordinated response and emergency medical care, involving multiple people and agencies. A comprehensive EMS system is ready every day for every kind of emergency.

EMS is an intricate system, with each component playing an essential role as part of a coordinated and seamless system of emergency medical care. EMS includes all of the following components:

• Agencies and organizations (both private and public)
• Communications and transportation networks
• Trauma systems, hospitals, trauma centers, and specialty care centers
• Rehabilitation facilities
• Highly trained professionals
  • - Volunteer and career prehospital personnel
  • - Physicians, nurses, and therapists
  • - Administrators and government officials

The delivery of emergency medical care is a local function and is organized in a variety of ways. Local communities design their own EMS systems, using local resources to fill local needs. The organizational structure of EMS, as well as who provides and finances the services, varies significantly from community to community. Prehospital services can be based in a fire department, a hospital, an independent government agency (i.e., public health agency), non-profit corporation (e.g., Rescue Squad) or provided by commercial for-profit companies.

NHTSA and its predecessor agency have supported comprehensive national emergency medical services system development for 50 years. NHTSA has been a consistent Federal advocate in promoting a systems approach to the development of emergency medical services. In collaboration with its national and Federal partners, NHTSA’s Office of EMS has successfully implemented many programs to support and enhance EMS systems, including national standard curricula for EMS providers, the National EMS Agenda for the Future, the National Emergency Medical Services Information System (EMS Data), and planning for the implementation of Next Generation 911.

Consensus-building, collaboration and leveraging of limited resources into significant projects are the hallmarks of NHTSA's role on EMS system development. A comprehensive EMS system is ready every day for every kind of emergency. An efficient EMS system is integral to reducing traffic morbidity and mortality, essential to traffic mobility, and key to ensuring prompt emergency response to any type of incident. The Nation's best preparation for any incident is a comprehensive EMS system, ready every day for every emergency.

The Office of EMS is housed within the U.S. Department of Transportation, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. To find out more about the Office of EMS and its programs and products, explore the web site at EMS.gov, visit the Office of EMS page, register to participate in free Federal webinars, receive email updates, or sign up for the EMS Update newsletter from the Office of EMS.

Each State and territory has a lead EMS agency. These agencies are often within the State health department, but in some States they are part of the public safety department or are an independent State agency. State EMS agencies are responsible for the overall planning, coordination, and regulation of the State EMS system as well as licensing or certifying EMS providers and ambulances.

The following functions are typically, but not universally, performed by State EMS agencies:

• Operating or coordinating a statewide communications system that connects EMS providers in the field with hospitals as well as trauma and specialty centers;
• Promulgating statewide medical protocols for EMS providers, or otherwise establishing the scope of EMS practice within the State;
• Operating or coordinating a statewide communications system that connects EMS providers in the field with hospitals as well as trauma and specialty centers;
• Coordinating the distribution of grants for EMS or administering grant programs;
• Planning for and coordinating the medical response to disasters and mass casualty incidents and since 9/11, homeland security medical initiatives;
• Serving as the lead agency for statewide trauma systems or other specialty care systems; collecting data from local EMS agencies, hospitals, and trauma centers, and monitoring system performance and outcome;
• Administering or coordinating regional EMS programs.

More information about state agencies is available from the National Association of State EMS Officials (NASEMSO), a non-profit organization of State EMS Directors, State EMS Medical Directors, Training Coordinators, Data Managers and Trauma Coordinators. For more information about NASEMSO and State EMS agencies, visit the NASEMSO website and its list of State EMS agencies.

Since its inception, the purpose of EMS has been to render emergency medical care to sick or injured people in emergency situations. But during the past 50 years, its role has continuously evolved. Modern EMS developed out of simultaneous advances in the science of cardiac resuscitation as well as the recognition of accidental death and disability as a neglected epidemic. It was created to meet the immediate needs of the acutely ill and injured; to provide emergency care and transportation.

Over the past five decades, EMS has expanded to provide emergency medical care for all types of emergencies. In many areas of the country, EMS serves as a heath care "safety net," especially for the un- or under-insured. Public health authorities have also turned to EMS to assist in prevention activities, to promote health and wellness programs, and to assist in the identification of new or significant outbreaks of illness or injury.

The natural and man-made disasters of recent years have further changed the role of EMS and the need to respond to a growing list of hazards as well as the capability to care for large numbers of patients. Advances in medicine and technology continue to generate changes in operations and the protocols for emergency care provided by EMS. In today's world, a comprehensive EMS system is one that is ready for every emergency every day. But first and foremost, caring for patients remains the priority for EMS. Learn more about the development of modern EMS.

NHTSA’s Office of EMS envisions an accessible and effective community-based emergency health system that produces optimal outcomes from motor vehicle crashes and other health emergencies based on the most current available data. The Office of EMS has and will continue to support a variety of programs and projects that encourage and support EMS systems nationwide as they collect and make meaningful use of all relevant data to ensure the best possible patient outcomes.

One of the most recognizable and successful Office of EMS managed EMS Data initiatives is the National Emergency Medical Services Information System (NEMSIS).

NEMSIS empowers EMS professionals to turn that data into meaningful information, enabling data-driven, evidence-based care to patients and communities. NEMSIS provides the framework for standardized data collection, hosting the National EMS Database and providing tools and resources for EMS data use with the goal of improving patient care.

Since the 1970s, the need for EMS information systems and databases was recognized and many statewide data systems were created to address that need. These EMS systems varied in the ability to collect patient and systems data to allow collective analysis at a local, State, and national level. For this reason, NEMSIS was developed to support the sharing of standardized data elements for states and agencies to support efforts to improve systems of care.

For more information about the Office of EMS’ activities to support nationwide collection and use of EMS data, visit the EMS Data page of EMS.gov.

The Federal Interagency Committee on Emergency Medical Services (FICEMS) was established by Congress in 2005 to ensure coordination among Federal agencies supporting local, regional, State, tribal, and territorial EMS and 911 systems. FICEMS was also created to improve the delivery of emergency medical services (EMS) throughout the nation. Learn more about FICEMS mission, vision and current activities here.

NHTSA has long been involved in advocating for a universal number for the public to call to access emergency help. The National 911 Program, housed within the Office of EMS, provides federal leadership to support and promote optimal 911 services. It was created by Congress to provide information to improve the 911 system and to coordinate information sharing and activities among federal agencies and the 911 community. The Program fulfills its mission by developing and distributing a variety of tools and resources for the nation’s 911 stakeholders.

For more information on NHTSA’s 911 initiatives, visit www.911.gov.

Recognizing the need for a symbol that would represent this critical public service and be easily recognized by all, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) created the "Star of Life" and holds priority rights to the use of this registered certification mark. Adapted from the personal Medical Identification Symbol of the American Medical Association, each bar on the Star of Life represents one of six EMS functions. The functions include:

The Star of Life has become synonymous with emergency medical care around the globe. This symbol can be seen as a means of identification on ambulances, emergency medical equipment, patches or apparel worn by EMS providers and materials such as books, pamphlets, manuals, reports, and publications that either have a direct application to EMS or were generated by an EMS organization. It can also be found on road maps and highway signs indicating the location of or access to qualified emergency medical care.