EMS

Michigan Emergency Medical Services System

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) describes Emergency Medical Services (EMS) as being at the juncture where healthcare, public health and public safety meet. EMS has evolved into an organized, coordinated and integrated system of care that requires a collaborative approach of a broad range of partners to ensure that the right patient, gets to the right facility, in the right amount of time to improve outcomes.

The Division of EMS and Systems of Care within the Bureau of Emergency Preparedness, EMS, and Systems of Care is charged with the responsibility for the development, coordination, and administration of a statewide emergency medical services system. There are several components to an effective and efficient EMS System including: regulatory (licensing of providers, agencies and vehicles) and policy functions (protocols and administrative rules in support of the Public Health Code), human resources and education, transportation, facilities, communications, trauma systems, public information, provider education, medical direction and pre-hospital clinical care, integration of care, data collection and analysis for quality initiatives, public health surveillance and improving patient outcomes, and emergency preparedness activities. As of 8/28/19, there are 28,804 EMS providers, 819 life support agencies, and 3,847 life support vehicles that are licensed by the State of Michigan.