The emergency medical system (EMS) is a system of coordinated response and emergency medical care. The EMS system involves multiple people and agencies working together. A comprehensive EMS system is ready for various types of emergencies. A medical first responder provides medical care to patients in emergency settings.

A career in prehospital emergency medicine requires extensive knowledge of various injuries, diseases, and the ability to provide complex medical care in various medical emergency settings. Specialized interventions performed in the hospital are delivered earlier in pre-hospital care. This intervention may be before or during the transfer of the patient to the hospital. Individuals providing this type of care are known as medical first responders.

Prehospital medicine is a part of a trauma system that has several components which will be discussed in this chapter.

Washington, like most states, has laws that direct the delivery of prehospital medicine throughout the state. In Washington, the office of EMS falls under the Department of Health. State regulations require that a plan be set up and reviewed every two years to provide a framework for delivery of prehospital care within the state. This has been accomplished by the establishment of regional councils. The state office itself provides guidance to these councils and also provides certification and licensing to EMS providers and individual agencies.

Attributions

1. Figure 6.1: image released under the Pexels License