Rural Emergency Medical Services (EMS) and Trauma – Resources
Selected recent or important resources focusing on Rural Emergency Medical Services (EMS) and Trauma.
Rural EMS Workforce: A Call to Action
Policy brief discussing rural emergency medical services (EMS) systems. Highlights challenges facing the rural EMS workforce, including the costs of training and reimbursement concerns. Outlines policy recommendations to strengthen rural EMS systems.
Author(s): Christopher McLaughlin, Olivia Riutta, Jonnathan Busko
Date: 02/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: National Rural Health Association
view details
Policy brief discussing rural emergency medical services (EMS) systems. Highlights challenges facing the rural EMS workforce, including the costs of training and reimbursement concerns. Outlines policy recommendations to strengthen rural EMS systems.
Author(s): Christopher McLaughlin, Olivia Riutta, Jonnathan Busko
Date: 02/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: National Rural Health Association
view details
Characteristics and Challenges of Rural Ambulance Agencies - A Brief Review and Policy Considerations
Examines challenges including prolonged response and transport times, insufficient payment by insurers, transitions from volunteer to paid workforce, and lack of plans and policies to coordinate services. Features recommendations for identifying public policy considerations to stabilize rural ambulance agencies.
Author(s): A. Clinton MacKinney, Keith J. Mueller, Andrew F. Coburn, et al.
Date: 01/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Rural Policy Research Institute Rural Health Panel
view details
Examines challenges including prolonged response and transport times, insufficient payment by insurers, transitions from volunteer to paid workforce, and lack of plans and policies to coordinate services. Features recommendations for identifying public policy considerations to stabilize rural ambulance agencies.
Author(s): A. Clinton MacKinney, Keith J. Mueller, Andrew F. Coburn, et al.
Date: 01/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Rural Policy Research Institute Rural Health Panel
view details
ACEP Rural Emergency Care Task Force 2020: Report to the ACEP Board of Directors
Final report of the American College of Emergency Physicians' 2020 Rural Emergency Care Task Force. Addresses objectives and offers recommendations for developing strategies to support the current rural emergency department (ED) workforce, promote training, facilitate use of telemedicine, and improve quality of patient care. Features statistics on characteristics of hospitals in rural areas, and includes information on typical rural ED hospital practice environments in areas with 6 levels of population density.
Date: 10/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: American College of Emergency Physicians
view details
Final report of the American College of Emergency Physicians' 2020 Rural Emergency Care Task Force. Addresses objectives and offers recommendations for developing strategies to support the current rural emergency department (ED) workforce, promote training, facilitate use of telemedicine, and improve quality of patient care. Features statistics on characteristics of hospitals in rural areas, and includes information on typical rural ED hospital practice environments in areas with 6 levels of population density.
Date: 10/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: American College of Emergency Physicians
view details
Implementation of Flex EMS Supplemental Funding Projects: Year One Activities
Provides an overview of the first-year implementation efforts of the eight Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Supplemental funding grant recipients. Describes each grant project, the impact of COVID-19 and other challenges on project implementation, and factors that facilitated implementation. Includes recommendations for grantees.
Author(s): Karen Pearson, John Gale, Sara Kahn-Troster
Date: 10/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Flex Monitoring Team
view details
Provides an overview of the first-year implementation efforts of the eight Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Supplemental funding grant recipients. Describes each grant project, the impact of COVID-19 and other challenges on project implementation, and factors that facilitated implementation. Includes recommendations for grantees.
Author(s): Karen Pearson, John Gale, Sara Kahn-Troster
Date: 10/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Flex Monitoring Team
view details
An Evaluation of FirstNet's Progress
Presents a recording of a September 24, 2020, hearing before the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Examines FirstNet and AT&T's progress on developing a nationwide public safety broadband network. Testimony from Jason Porter, Senior Vice President of AT&T, discusses FirstNet's focus on rural America.
Additional links: Jason Porter Testimony
Date: 09/2020
Type: Video/Multimedia
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation
view details
Presents a recording of a September 24, 2020, hearing before the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Examines FirstNet and AT&T's progress on developing a nationwide public safety broadband network. Testimony from Jason Porter, Senior Vice President of AT&T, discusses FirstNet's focus on rural America.
Additional links: Jason Porter Testimony
Date: 09/2020
Type: Video/Multimedia
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation
view details
2020 National Emergency Medical Services Assessment
Describes emergency medical services (EMS), EMS emergency preparedness, and 911 systems at the state and national levels, using data from a survey completed by representatives of 54 states and U.S. territories. Features statistics in categories including EMS organizations, response and patient care, workforce health and safety, disaster preparedness, and funding, including funding provided by the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy.
Date: 05/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: National Association of State EMS Officials
view details
Describes emergency medical services (EMS), EMS emergency preparedness, and 911 systems at the state and national levels, using data from a survey completed by representatives of 54 states and U.S. territories. Features statistics in categories including EMS organizations, response and patient care, workforce health and safety, disaster preparedness, and funding, including funding provided by the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy.
Date: 05/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: National Association of State EMS Officials
view details
The Effect of Rural Hospital Closures on Emergency Medical Service Response and Transport Times
Examines ways in which rural hospital closures affect EMS response time, transport time, and total activation time, using data from 2010-2016. Features statistics comparing rates prior to rural hospital closure and immediately post-closure.
Author(s): Katherine E.M. Miller, Hailey J. James, George Mark Holmes, Courtney H. Van Houtven
Citation: Health Services Research, 55(2), 288-300
Date: 04/2020
Type: Document
view details
Examines ways in which rural hospital closures affect EMS response time, transport time, and total activation time, using data from 2010-2016. Features statistics comparing rates prior to rural hospital closure and immediately post-closure.
Author(s): Katherine E.M. Miller, Hailey J. James, George Mark Holmes, Courtney H. Van Houtven
Citation: Health Services Research, 55(2), 288-300
Date: 04/2020
Type: Document
view details
Exploring State Data Sources to Monitor Rural Emergency Medical Services Performance Improvement
Examines potential sources of data that State Flex Programs (SFPs) could utilize to analyze and improve rural emergency medical services (EMS). Discusses challenges facing rural EMS systems and the assessment of these systems by SFPs. Explores how SFPs can support rural EMS data collection initiatives.
Author(s): John Gale, Karen Pearson, Yvonne Jonk
Date: 03/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Flex Monitoring Team
view details
Examines potential sources of data that State Flex Programs (SFPs) could utilize to analyze and improve rural emergency medical services (EMS). Discusses challenges facing rural EMS systems and the assessment of these systems by SFPs. Explores how SFPs can support rural EMS data collection initiatives.
Author(s): John Gale, Karen Pearson, Yvonne Jonk
Date: 03/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Flex Monitoring Team
view details
Template for Emergency Medical Services Informed Community Self Determination (ICSD)
Includes an agency pre-visit checklist, a sample Program Agreement, and evaluation tools to help outside evaluators report on issues that might affect a community's EMS performance and level of care. Intended for rural, relatively isolated areas with few EMS resource options.
Author(s): Kevin McGinnis, Gary Wingrove
Date: 02/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: National Association of State EMS Officials
view details
Includes an agency pre-visit checklist, a sample Program Agreement, and evaluation tools to help outside evaluators report on issues that might affect a community's EMS performance and level of care. Intended for rural, relatively isolated areas with few EMS resource options.
Author(s): Kevin McGinnis, Gary Wingrove
Date: 02/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: National Association of State EMS Officials
view details
Rural Emergency Medical Services Integration
Outlines tools and strategies for Emergency Medical Services (EMS) to use when integrating with other healthcare providers. Discusses approaches to the integration of medical direction, medical protocols, quality reviews, training and continuing education, and operations, among other topics.
Date: 11/2019
Type: Document
Sponsoring organizations: National Rural Health Resource Center, Paramedic Foundation, Technical Assistance and Services Center
view details
Outlines tools and strategies for Emergency Medical Services (EMS) to use when integrating with other healthcare providers. Discusses approaches to the integration of medical direction, medical protocols, quality reviews, training and continuing education, and operations, among other topics.
Date: 11/2019
Type: Document
Sponsoring organizations: National Rural Health Resource Center, Paramedic Foundation, Technical Assistance and Services Center
view details
Additional resources are available related to this guide. See the full list of resources by topic for:
- Emergency department and urgent care services
- Emergency medical services
- Emergency medical technicians and paramedics
Last Updated: 10/21/2024