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EMS Authority Brochure
MISSION
The mission of the California Emergency Medical Services Authority is to ensure quality patient care by administering an effective, statewide system of coordinated emergency medical care, injury prevention, and disaster medical response.
The EMS Authority is charged with providing leadership in developing and implementing EMS systems throughout California. We also have the responsibility for promoting disaster medical preparedness throughout the state, and, when required, managing the state's medical response to major disasters.
HISTORY AND BACKGROUND
In California, prior to 1980, the responsibility for emergency medical services (EMS) and disaster medical preparedness was spread among a variety of state departments. It became clear, however, that a more unified approach to emergency and disaster medical services was needed. Thus, the Emergency Medical Services System and Prehospital Emergency Care Personnel Act (SB 125) created the Emergency Medical Services Authority (Division 2.5 of the Health and Safety Code Section 1797-1799). This legislation was the culmination of several years of effort by local administrators, health care providers, consumer groups, and legislators to establish a state lead agency and centralized resource to deal with emergency and disaster medical services.
ORGANIZATION
The EMS Authority is one of thirteen departments within California's Health and Human Services Agency. Funding for EMS Authority programs comes from the State General Fund, Federal Preventive Health and Health Services Block Grant, fees for paramedic certification testing and registry, and the Office of Traffic Safety.
In California, day-to-day EMS system management is the responsibility of the local and regional EMS agencies. It is principally through these agencies that the EMS Authority works to promote quality EMS services statewide. We also work closely with many local, state and federal agencies and private enterprises with emergency and/or disaster medical services roles and responsibilities.
PROGRAM RESPONSIBILITIES:
EMS Personnel and Systems Development The EMS Authority is mandated to develop and implement regulations that set training standards and the scope of practice for emergency medical personnel (EMT-I, EMT-II, EMT-Paramedic, Mobile Intensive Care Nurses, firefighters, peace officers and lifeguards)and first aid training programs for school bus drivers and day care workers. We review local and regional EMS plans to ensure compliance with state laws and guidelines. We also promulgate Trauma Care System regulations as well as guidelines for the assessment of critical care capabilities of hospitals in order to assure appropriate patient care.
The EMS Authority operates the State Paramedic Licensure program. This program tests and licenses paramedic candidates in California to ensure that they meet the high standards of prehospital care. Disciplinary investigations are also conducted by this program.
Disaster Medical Services
The EMS Authority, as the lead agency responsible for coordinating the State's medical response to disasters, provides medical resources to local governments in support of their disaster response. This may include the identification, acquisition and deployment of medical supplies and personnel from unaffected regions of the state to meet the needs of disaster victims. Response activities may also include arranging for evacuation of injured victims to hospitals in areas/regions not impacted by a disaster.
The medical response to disasters requires the contributions of many agencies. The EMS Authority works closely with the Governor's Office of Emergency Services, California National Guard, Department of Health Services and other local, state, and federal agencies to improve preparedness and response. The EMS Authority also work closely with the private sector: hospitals, ambulance companies, and medical supply vendors.
Data and Injury Prevention
The EMS Authority's Office of Research and Information Services (ORIS) was established in 1990 with the receipt of grant funding from the Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) via the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to increase and improve local EMS Agencies (LEMSA) data capacities and capabilities; to standardize data collection of prehospital and trauma data in local EMS Agencies; to develop an aggregated statewide prehospital database; to study the efficacy of EMS Systems and traffic safety measures/conditions; and to reduce morbidity and mortality associated with traffic injuries in California by increasing the role/activity of EMS personnel in injury control activities. One of ORIS's major tasks has been the completion of the Sensitivity Index (SI) and Data Project that links prehospital, police traffic and patient outcome data in order to analyze the state's care of vehicular crash victims. Another major objective established was the EMS/Prehospital and Trauma Advisory Committee that examined existing local, state, and national EMS data practices and produced a core data set for California EMS. The EMS Authority has granted over two million dollars in prevention 2000 funds to local agencies to encourage the collection and use of prehospital data.
Injury prevention is part of EMSA's mission to coordinate and integrate emergency medical care and preventive services. In December, 1991, the State EMS Authority was awarded a grant from OTS to develop a program, "Partnership for Injury Prevention (PIP)", designed to reduce morbidity and mortality associated with traffic injuries in California. The program produced the State EMS Pedestrian Task Force, California Pedestrian Safety Plan, the Injury Prevention Clearinghouse, and provide technical assistance regarding injury control in the EMS community. EMS Authority has made injury prevention activities a priority and has funded LEMSA's projects to promote injury prevention and public information and education activities. The Authority has also funded and promoted an injury prevention training curricula, "Accident's Aren't" for prehospital personnel, throughout the state.
EMS For Children
The Maternal and Child Health Bureau, U. S. Department of Health and Human Services, provided the EMS Authority with funding to enhance emergency medical services for children in California. The overall goal of the project was to assure acutely ill and injured children had access to high quality, coordinated, and comprehensive emergency and critical care services. An EMS for Children Model was developed by subcommittees of experts that assisted in the development of the guidelines, standards, and key products that make up the EMSC Model. The EMSC Model provides a continuum of care, beginning with the detection of an illness or injury to emergency department care and rehabilitation. The EMS Authority is offering technical assistance to EMS agencies that need to integrate the EMSC Model into their existing systems.
LEADERSHIP IN EMS
Emergency and disaster medical services in California are rooted in the skills and commitment of the first responders, EMTs, nurses, physicians, and administrators who deliver care to the public and operate the system. In order for high quality services to be delivered with high efficiency, all aspects of EMS systems must work together, mutually reinforcing and supporting each other for the benefit of the patient. The California EMS Authority, through standard setting, consensus building, and leadership plays a central role in improving the quality of EMS for all Californians.