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Emergency Medical Services

Emergency Medical Services

EMS Division Contact Information

EMS logo
EMS logo

About Emergency Medical Services (EMS)

Emergency Medical Services, more commonly known as EMS, is a system that provides emergency medical care to Hoosiers more than 2,000 times per day. Once it is activated by an incident that causes serious illness or injury, the focus of EMS is emergency medical care of the patient. EMS is most easily recognized when emergency vehicles or helicopters are seen responding to incidents, but EMS is much more than a ride to the hospital. It is a system of coordinated response and emergency medical care, involving multiple people and agencies. The Indiana EMS system is ready every day for every kind of emergency. With more than 800 provider agencies, operating more than 2,000 emergency ambulances, by more than 24,000 emergency medical personnel, EMS is the frontline of our health care system safety net and stands proudly at the intersection of health care, public health and public safety.

EMS District Managers staff
EMS District Managers (click for contacts)

EMS personnel earn certifications at different levels: emergency medical responder (EMR), emergency medical technician (EMT), advanced EMT (AEMT) and paramedic. These certifications prepare and authorize them to perform specific types of medical care, which are listed in the EMS scope of practice.

State legislation in recent years has paved the way for an innovative patient-centered model of care called Mobile Integrated Health (MIH), also known as community paramedicine. Learn more about MIH in Indiana as the field of EMS continues to change.

EMS District Managers

EMS district managers are assigned to IDHS districts and are resources and liaisons for EMS information for individuals and organizations. They address questions about EMS operations and rules, the ImageTrend data system and complaints and investigations. District managers handle provider organization certifications and serve as points of contact on questions for individual certifications.

Map of Indiana counties with color-coded districts with numbers
EMS District Managers (click for contacts)

News/Updates

EMS Week 2024 logo
EMS Week 2024 logo
Honor Your EMS Colleagues for EMS Week
EMS Week 2024: May 19-25

This year marks the 50th anniversary of National EMS Week celebrating EMS professionals. More than 24,000 Hoosiers hold some sort of EMS certification, and IDHS has requested Gov. Eric J. Holcomb declare May 19-25 as Indiana EMS Week, to coincide with the national recognition.

IDHS is accepting nominations from community leaders and EMS personnel to recognize local EMS teams and individuals for Indiana EMS Week. Complete a brief nomination form to honor an EMS worker you know. The deadline for nominations is May 1.

EMS Week nomination form

IDHS EMS Issues Almost $1.3 Million for Health First Readiness Equipment Grant

The EMS Division has issued $1,279,763.04 in awards for the Health First EMS Readiness EMS Equipment Grant (FY2024). The grant was created using a portion of the roughly $6.4 million allocated by the state legislature to be distributed in the next two fiscal years as part of Health First EMS Readiness funds. Eligible applicants were Indiana EMS training institutions for this round of grants. View the distribution of awards below.

EMS equipment grant awards

EMS Workforce Assessment cover page
EMS Workforce Assessment cover page
First-Ever Indiana EMS Workforce Assessment

The EMS Division released the 2023 Indiana EMS Workforce Assessment, which culminates a year-long evaluation of the current Indiana EMS workforce. It will guide policy and grant-funding decisions in applicable projects. Highlights of the workforce assessment include:

  • Mapped locations of EMS training centers and their corresponding test/pass rates
  • Data that reveals training challenges from an educational perspective
  • Survey results of why EMS professionals let their certifications lapse or leave the industry
  • A county-level needs assessment based on population and local EMS workforce numbers

The assessment was a collaborative effort that included IDHS, Indiana Department of Health, Indiana University Bowen Center for Health Workforce Research and Policy, and the Indiana Management Performance Hub. The EMS Division is working with the Bowen Center on a proposal to extend the workforce assessment for 2024 and establish a new EMS workforce dashboard.

Recent Updates

View archived updates

Services

EMS Commission

EMS Commission logo

The EMS Commission is responsible for the establishment and maintenance of an effective system of emergency medical services. This includes the necessary equipment, personnel and facilities to ensure that all emergency patients receive prompt and adequate medical care throughout the range of emergency conditions encountered. The commission has also established the Mobile Integrated Health Advisory Committee. Visit the Boards and Commissions page for more information, including instructions on submitting a waiver and recent meeting minutes.

EMS Commission Logo