Significance of Regulatory Domain of EMS

Professional and Regulatory Issues Central to Nomenclature

Emergency Medical Service or EMS can be described as a comprehensive system that offers the organization of personnel, equipment, and facilities for the delivery of health and safety services to patients with sudden injuries or illnesses in a coordinated and effective manner (Al-Shaqsi, 2010, p.320). The definition of emergency medical services has emerged as an important aspect in the modern health care environment that is characterized by increased occurrence of emergencies due to various factors. Individuals in the modern society are increasingly vulnerable to conditions and emergencies that may generate sudden illnesses or injuries. In addition, the identification of a suitable definition and description of emergency medical service helps in determining the domain it resides in i.e. public health, healthcare or public safety.

As previously mentioned, emergency medical service refers to a multifaceted system that handles the organization of care providers, equipments, and facilities towards the provision of effective, coordinated services in emergency clinical situations. This is the most suitable definition of emergency medical services since it captures the main goal or objective of this concept and process. The main focus of EMS is to provide timely care to patients experiencing sudden and life-threatening emergencies or injuries so as to prevent long-term morbidity or unnecessary mortality. Therefore, the function of emergency medical service can be simplified into various components i.e. accessing emergency care, providing urgent care services to the community, care en route, and instant care upon arrival at the medical facility.

While the function of emergency medical services is relatively clear, the regulatory framework it resides in is seemingly unclear. This lack of clarity is attributed to various factors including the recent expansion of emergency care services. Since its inception, EMS has expanded in scope through the increase in the series of clinical interventions conducted by pre-hospital provider. This expansion in scope has also been accompanied by an increased evaluation of the effectiveness and value of emergency care services provided in the pre-hospital setting (El Sayed, 2012, p.1). Consequently, EMS agencies are constantly faced with the need to establish quality control and improvement programs that are based on major performance indicators to enhance the effectiveness of EMS services in the pre-hospital setting.