Emergency Medical Services (EMS) is a unique health care system in many regards. In rural areas much of the care is provided by volunteers. EMS agency management personnel may also be volunteers. Generally, even the most remote and rural hospitals are managed by persons with specific education, training, and/or experience in health care management, but leaders of rural EMS agencies often do not have such formal preparation.

EMS agency managers are called by many different names - service chief, agency director, or association president. Regardless of the title, these managers have an awesome responsibility to the patients served, to the oversight and regulatory bodies to whom they report, and to the personnel for which they are responsible. It can be a daunting task, especially for those with limited preparation and experience.

As an EMS agency manager, you are a critical element in the health care delivery system for your community.

Purpose
The purpose of this document is to provide new EMS agency managers with an orientation to the broad scope of an EMS system. For individuals who have been focused primarily on delivering quality patient care, the transition to managing an EMS agency within the complex emergency health care system can be overwhelming.

Description of Product
This is a written “text” on issues associated with various components of the EMS system. It is intended to serve as both an initial orientation and as a reference guide. As resources allow, it is anticipated that this text will be migrated to an interactive Web-based training program that can be accessed by anyone at any time.

Need for Additional Training
This manual is not intended to replace more formal training programs that may be provided by your State or Commonwealth EMS Office or by other public or private entities. It is meant only as an orientation to your new role and responsibilities as an EMS agency manager. Additional training and experience is essential to refine the skills needed to become an effective EMS agency manager. You are strongly encouraged to seek out those training opportunities.