EMS Systems Roles and Responsibilities
                     EMS Systems 
Roles and 
Responsibilities
Emergency Medical Services, more commonly 
known as EMS, is a system that provides 
emergency medical care. Once it is activated by an 
incident that causes serious illness or injury, the 
focus of EMS is emergency medical care of the 
patient(s).
WHAT IS 
EMS?
Source: www.ems.gov
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.
Ride to 
the 
hospital
Source: www.ems.gov
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.
Coordinat
ed 
response 
Source: www.ems.gov
EMS is an intricate system, and each component of 
this system has an essential role to perform as part 
of a coordinated and seamless system of 
emergency medical care. 
Intricate 
system
Source: www.ems.gov
• Agencies and organizations (both private and 
public)
• Communications and transportation networks
• Trauma systems, hospitals, trauma centers, and 
specialty care centers
• Rehabilitation facilities
Componen
ts
Source: www.ems.gov
• EMS does not exist in isolation, but is integrated 
with other services and systems intended to 
maintain and enhance the community's health 
and safety.
Integrated 
System
Source: www.ems.gov
• A combination of the principles and resources of 
each is employed in EMS systems. Since EMS 
providers work in the community, they are often 
the first to identify public health problems and 
issues.
Identify 
public 
health 
problems 
Source: www.ems.gov
• Since EMS providers respond to all kinds of 
emergencies and all kinds of hazards, they 
often work shoulder-to-shoulder with public 
safety colleagues in law enforcement and fire 
services. 
Public 
safety 
Source: www.ems.gov
• The organizational structure of EMS, as well as 
who provides and finances the services, varies 
significantly from community to community.
Organizati
onal 
structure 
Source: www.ems.gov
THANK YOU