Who delivers prehospital emergency medical care?
The delivery of emergency medical care is a local function and is organized in a variety of ways. Local communities design their own EMS systems, using local resources to fill local needs. The organizational structure of EMS, as well as who provides and finances the services, varies significantly from community to community. Prehospital services can be based in a fire department, a hospital, an independent government agency (i.e., public health agency), non-profit corporation (e.g., Rescue Squad) or provided by commercial for-profit companies.
