About the EMS Authority

EMSA is responsible for the equitable coordination, administration, and integration of the statewide emergency medical services system to reduce suffering and save lives throughout California.

EMSA envisions equitable, effective, and innovative emergency medical services system throughout California that delivers optimal patient-centered care.

EMS Systems Planning and Development

The EMS Authority provides statewide coordination and leadership for the planning, development, and implementation of local EMS systems. California has 34 local EMS systems that are providing emergency medical services for California’s 58 counties. Seven regional EMS systems comprised of thirty-three counties and twenty-six single county agencies provide the services. Regional systems are usually comprised of small, more rural, less-populated counties and single-county systems generally exist in the larger and more urban counties.

Responsibilities for EMS systems planning and development include the following:

• Assessment of EMS Systems in order to coordinate EMS activity based on community needs, for the effective and efficient delivery of EMS services;
• Provision of technical assistance to local agencies developing, implementing, or evaluating components of an EMS system;
• Development of statewide standards and guidelines for EMS systems as well as guidelines for the assessment of critical care capabilities of hospitals; and
• Review and approval of local EMS plans to ensure compliance with the minimum standards set by the EMS Authority.

Trauma Care System Planning and Development

The EMS Authority provides statewide coordination and leadership for the planning, development, and implementation of local trauma care systems. LEMSAs are responsible for planning, implementing, and managing local trauma care systems, including assessing needs, developing the system design, designating trauma care centers, collecting trauma care data, and quality assurance.

Responsibilities for trauma care systems planning and development include the following:

• Development of statewide standards for trauma care systems and trauma centers;
• Provision of technical assistance to local agencies developing, implementing, or evaluating components of a trauma care system; and
• Review and approval of local trauma care system plans to ensure compliance with the minimum standards set by the EMS Authority.

Emergency Medical Services For Children

The overall goal of the emergency medical services for children (EMSC) program is to ensure that acutely ill and injured children have access to high quality, coordinated, and comprehensive emergency and critical care services appropriate for children’s special needs.

The EMS Authority, using a grant from the Maternal and Child Health Bureau, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and with the assistance of subcommittees of experts in various aspects of pediatric care, has developed guidelines, standards, and key products that make up a comprehensive model for EMSC services. The EMSC Model provides a continuum of care, beginning with the detection of an illness or injury to emergency department care and rehabilitation.

Responsibilities for EMS for Children systems planning and development include the following:

• Provision of technical assistance to local agencies integrating EMSC Model into their existing EMS systems; and
• Maintenance and update of the 13 components of the statewide standards and guidelines for EMSC systems, as necessary to ensure that the standards reflect developments in pediatric care.

Poison Control System

The EMS Authority oversees the operation of California’s statewide poison control system. Poison control services, which can save lives, prevent disabilities, and reduce health care costs, are provided free of charge and can be accessed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year by calling 1-800-222-1222 or visiting the California Poison Control website.

Responsibilities for California’s poison control system include the following:

• Development of state standards for poison control services and poison centers;
• Designation and monitoring of the poison control services contractor;
• Evaluation of poison control system operations and site reviews of poison center answering points;
• Provision of technical assistance to poison control center administrators; and
• Provision of assistance to the poison control services contractor in identifying sources of funding to support poison control services operations.

Prehospital Emergency Medical Care Personnel Standards

The EMS Authority is mandated by statute to develop and implement regulations that set training standards and the scope of practice for emergency medical personnel, including Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs), Advanced EMTs (AEMTs), Paramedics, Mobile Intensive Care Nurses (MICN), Firefighters, Peace Officers and Lifeguards.

Responsibilities for prehospital emergency medical care personnel standards include the following:

• Development of statewide standards for all prehospital personnel,
• Development, adoption, implementation, and maintenance of regulations for each level of personnel,
• Resolution of policy issues and development of policies as necessary,
• Provision of technical assistance regarding regulations and policies to LEMSAs, prehospital care providers including fire agencies and ambulance companies, EMS personnel, persons seeking required training, and training program administrators,
• Review and approve Statewide Public Safety First Aid (PSFA), EMT and Refresher Training Programs, and
• Maintain and provide technical assistance for the statewide Emergency Medical Services Training Program Database, a database providing the approval status for all EMS training programs in California.
• Maintain and provide technical assistance for the statewide Emergency Medical Services Personnel Registry, a database providing the certification and licensure status for all EMS personnel in California.

Emergency Medical Dispatcher Standards and EMS Communications Systems

The EMS Authority is developing standards for emergency medical dispatcher (EMD) training and for the provision of pre-arrival emergency care instructions (emergency medical care advice given over the telephone by EMDs to persons at the scene of a medical emergency for the provision of emergency care until qualified prehospital medical care personnel arrive at the scene and take over care of the patient). The EMS Authority is also working with experts to evaluate the status of EMS communications systems in California and to develop a state plan for EMS communications systems.

Responsibilities for emergency medical dispatcher standards and EMS communications systems planning and development include the following:

• Development of statewide training standards for emergency medical dispatcher;
• Development of statewide standards for the provision of pre-arrival emergency care instructions;
• Provision of technical assistance to emergency medical dispatch agencies and dispatchers;
• Assessment of EMS communications systems; and
• Development of a state EMS communications plan.

First Aid and CPR Training Programs for Child Day Care Providers and School Bus Drivers

The EMS Authority is required by statute to set standards for and approve training programs in pediatric first aid, CPR, and preventive health practices for child day care providers and school bus drivers. Licensed child day care facilities in California are required to have at least one staff member certified in pediatric first aid, CPR and preventive health practices on duty whenever children are present. School bus drivers in California are required to have basic knowledge of pediatric medical emergencies and to be certified in first aid and CPR. The CHP tests school bus drivers in first aid and CPR; however, the test may be waived if drivers take a training course from the American Red Cross or from a training course approved by the EMS Authority.

Responsibilities for the child day care provider and school bus driver first aid and CPR training program unit include the following:

• Development, adoption, implementation, and maintenance of regulations for training programs;
• Review and approval of training programs;
• Provision of technical assistance regarding regulations and training program requirements to persons and organizations seeking approval of training programs;
• Provision of technical assistance regarding regulations and training requirements to child day care personnel, school bus drivers, schools, and others seeking information on required training, and approved training programs; and
• Investigation of complaints about training programs and disciplinary action, as necessary.

Epinephrine Auto-Injector Training Programs and Epinephrine Auto-Injector Certification for Laypersons and Off-Duty EMS Personnel

The EMS Authority is required by statute to set standards for and approve training programs in the storage, use, disposal, and usage reporting of Epinephrine Auto-Injectors by laypersons and off-duty EMS personnel. The program also certifies laypersons and off-duty EMS personnel.

Responsibilities for the laypersons and off-duty EMS personnel training and certification program include the following

• Development, adoption, implementation, and maintenance of regulations for training programs;
• Review and approve training programs;
• Provision of technical assistance regarding regulations and training program requirements to persons and organizations seeking approval of training programs;
• Review of epinephrine certification applications to ensure that certification requirements are met including, training, testing, and continuing education;
• Provisional technical assistance regarding regulations and training requirements to applicants and others seeking information on business requirements, certification and training requirements, and approved training programs; and
• Investigation of complaints about training programs and certified persons, as necessary.

Paramedic Licensure

The EMS Authority operates the California State Paramedic Licensure program.

Responsibilities for paramedic licensure include the following:

• Review of paramedic license applications to ensure that licensing requirements are met including training, testing, and continuing education,
• Completion of criminal background checks for initial paramedic licensure applicants and for those whose licenses have lapsed for more than a year, and
• Provision of technical assistance regarding licensure issues to paramedics, LEMSAs, fire agencies, ambulance companies, and training program administrators.

Disaster Medical Services Preparedness and Response

The EMS Authority, as the lead agency responsible for coordinating California’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 Department of Public Health, California National Guard, Department of Health Services and other local, state, and federal agencies to improve disaster preparedness and response. The EMS Authority also works closely with the private sector: hospitals, ambulance companies, and medical supply vendors.

Responsibilities for disaster medical services preparedness and response include the following:

• Development and maintenance of disaster medical response plans, policies and procedures;
• Provision of guidance and technical assistance to LEMSAs, county health departments, and hospitals for the development of local disaster medical plans, policies and procedures;
• Enhancement of state and local disaster medical response capabilities through the development of civilian disaster medical assistance teams (CAL-MATs), Ambulance Strike Teams (ASTs), disaster medical communications systems, and a statewide medical mutual aid system;
• Testing disaster medical response plans through periodic exercises with local, state, and federal agencies and the private sector; and
• Management, support and coordination of California’s medical response to a disaster.

Pre-Hospital Data, Injury Prevention, and Public Education

The EMS Authority is working to increase and improve LEMSA and state EMS data capacities and capabilities; to standardize the collection of prehospital and trauma data in LEMSAs; 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. Injury prevention is part of EMSA’s mission to coordinate and integrate emergency medical care and preventive services.

Responsibilities for data collection and injury prevention include the following:

• Development and maintenance of an aggregated statewide prehospital database;
• Establishment and maintenance of a core measure data set for California EMS;
• Provision of guidance and technical assistance to LEMSAs for the development and improvement of local EMS data collection systems;
• Promotion of injury prevention and public information and education activities including citizen first aid CPR programs as well as appropriate EMS access; and
• Development and promotion of a pedestrian safety plan for California.