Emergency Medical Services (2024)

Emergency Medical Services (1) Submit an EMS Support Ticket

317-234-7322 emscertifications@dhs.in.gov

Emergency Medical Services (4) Submit an EMS Support Ticket 317-234-7322 emscertifications@dhs.in.gov

Emergency Medical Services (7)

Emergency Medical Services (8)

About Emergency Medical Services (EMS)

Emergency Medical Services, or EMS, is a system that provides emergency medical care to Hoosiers more than 2,000 times per day. 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. With more than 800 provider agencies, operating more than 2,000 ambulances, with more than 24,000 emergency medical personnel, EMS is the front line of the health care system safety net and stands proudly at the intersection of health care, public healthand public safety.

The IDHS EMS Division leads and supports Indiana's EMS agencies and personnel. It oversees EMS certifications and training, and the division works closely with the EMS Commission to develop and implement EMS professional standards.

EMS District Managers EMS Recognitions EMS Scope of Practice

PSID Lookup

ImageTrend Reporting

EMS Commission Waiver

News

Establishing Baselines: County-by-County EMS Survey To Help Inform Legislature

Beginning June 3, IDHS will distribute a survey to every county to gather data about EMS services. Public Law 67-2024 was adopted this spring by the Indiana General Assembly, and the law requires IDHS to provide a detailed report about EMS service in all 92 counties to the legislature. The law also states that the county executive body (county commission) of each county is to provide the information about EMS service in the county, so county commissions will be reaching out to local EMS providers to work together to gather the requested data. The IDHS EMS Division asks EMS providers to help their counties complete the survey by July 15.

  • EMS Survey Frequently Asked Questions

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.

Sections and Services

  • Individuals

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    Individual Certifications

    You can access the full list of certification applications and instructions on the Individual Certifications page. The page also includes testing, continuing education and general information.

    Note: All certifications must be renewed online. Paper copies of individual renewals will only be accepted if you get audited. IDHS will issue paper copies of responders' initial certification via mail, but not for renewals. If you want a paper copy of your renewed certification, go to yourAcadis Portal account and print it there.

    Individual certifications

  • Service Providers

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    Service Provider Certifications and Forms

    On the Service Providers page, you can find forms for BLS and ALS providers, transport and non-transport, air ambulances, supervising hospitals, vehicle certification, exposure notification and out-of-hospital DNRs. General information, guidance documents and statutory information are also provided.

    Service providers

  • Training Institutions and Primary Instructors

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    Training Institutions and Primary Instructors

    Certifications information, including reference manual and applications, are available for training institutions on the Training Institutions and Primary Instructors page. How to become a primary instructor, all the associated forms for primary instructors and EMS courses information are also available.

    Training institutions and primary instructors

  • Mobile Integrated Health (MIH)

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    Mobile Integrated Health

    Mobile Integrated Health (MIH), or community paramedicine, is a patient-centered model of care delivered in a patient's home or in a mobile environment. This includes teams that come to patients as well as the use of telehealth platforms. Community paramedics can visit patients at their home and assist with health screenings, vaccinations, treatments and follow-ups.

    In Indiana and around the country, MIH is a growing, innovative approach to how the EMS system works as part of the overall public health system. The EMS Commission and IDHS EMS Division actively support the development of MIH programs. Learn more about MIH and find local programs on the interactive MIH program dashboard.

    MIH

  • Resources and Data

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    First Responder Behavioral Health

    All first responders need to know when they need help and how to get it. Organizational leaders and coworkers also need to establish work environments that provide adequate training, protect from overwork and support public safety personnel seeking help when they need it. Find resources for first responders on the First Responder Behavioral Health page.

    Behavioral health

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    Complaint Form

    File a complaint, problem or issue online regarding Indiana certified providers or personnel.

    Complaint form

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    EMS Data

    Local, state and federal organizations use EMS data to better inform health care decisions and policies. Find incident data, naloxone administration heat map, EMS Division annual reports and related information on the EMS Data page.

    EMS data

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    EMS Grants

    A variety of grants are open to fire departments and EMS providers for EMS-related uses. Discover them via the EMS Grants page.

    EMS grants

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    EMS Memorial

    The EMS Division remembers Indiana personnel who died in the line of duty.

    Memorial

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    Mobile Simulation Laboratory (Sim Lab)

    Request the mobile simulation laboratory for EMS training. This free service, using a repurposed ambulance and human patient simulators, travels the state providing hands-on training.

    Mobile Sim Lab

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    Vehicle Accident Reporting Form

    In compliance with IAC 836, all certified EMS providers must submit a vehicle accident report within 10 days when a provider vehicle is involved in a motor vehicle accident.

    Vehicle accident form

  • EMS Commission

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    EMS Commission

    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 Healthcare Advisory Committee. Visit the Boards and Commissions page for more information, including instructions on submitting a waiver and recent meeting minutes.

    EMS Commission

Emergency Medical Services (2024)

FAQs

How to answer why do you want to be an EMT? ›

Example: "Since I was young, I have always found joy in helping people and animals. When I got older, I realized that I wanted to work as a healthcare professional. However, I didn't want to study for many years in order to become a physician, so I decided to become an EMT.

What is the difference between an EMT and an EMR? ›

The training for EMRs is less comprehensive than that for EMTs. It typically includes basic first aid skills, patient assessment techniques, and instruction on how to use automated external defibrillators (AEDs). Unlike EMTs, EMRs cannot transport patients or administer medications.

Which is the highest level of emergency medical services training? ›

Paramedics are the final and highest level of EMS providers as they have the most training and experience. Paramedics are trained in all the skills of an AEMT, plus additional skills such as advanced cardiac life support (ACLS), advanced pediatric life support (PALS), and critical care transport.

What is the average response time for emergency medical service EMS in the United States? ›

EMS First Response.

NFPA Standard 1710 establishes a 60 second “turnout time” and 240 second “travel time” (together, 300 seconds or 5 minute first “response time”) benchmark time goal for not less than 90% of dispatched incidents (please click here and refer to Page 17 for a detailed description).

Why did you choose EMS? ›

It's a financially stable career choice that can provide you with a good standard of living. Overall, becoming an EMT is a great career choice for those who want to make a difference in their community, have the opportunity to help save lives, and enjoy a flexible and in-demand job with good pay and benefits.

How to pass an EMT interview? ›

10 Tips to Help You Nail Your EMT Job Interview
  1. Do Your Research. ...
  2. Arrive Early. ...
  3. Dress Appropriately. ...
  4. Take Relevant Documents With You. ...
  5. Be Enthusiastic, Assertive, and Positive. ...
  6. Practice With Commonly Asked Questions. ...
  7. Learn From Your Past Mistakes. ...
  8. Be Yourself.
Dec 2, 2022

What is the lowest level of EMT? ›

The Emergency Medical Responder certification is the first level offered by the NREMT. The job of an EMR is to administer basic life-saving medical interventions, such as CPR. EMRs stabilize patients as much as possible while waiting for additional medical personnel to arrive, and they also assist during transport.

What states don't take NREMt? ›

The following states do not recognize NREMT as a prerequisite for licensure:
  • Alaska.
  • Arizona.
  • Colorado.
  • Florida.
  • Georgia.
  • Idaho.
  • Kansas.
  • Kentucky.

What is Priority 3 in EMS? ›

Priority 1: Dead on arrival Trauma/CPR. Priority 2: Emergency. Priority 3: Non-Emergency. Priority 4: Situation Under Control.

What emergency is EMS called for the most? ›

What Injuries & Illnesses Do EMS Providers Most Commonly Treat?
  • Traumatic injury. 21.4%
  • Abdominal pain / problems. 12.3%
  • Respiratory distress. 12.2%
  • Chest pain / discomfort. 10.1%
  • Behavioral / psychiatric disorder. 7.8%
  • Loss of consciousness / fainting. 7.7%
  • Altered level of consciousness. 6.9%
  • Seizure. 4.7%
Nov 5, 2020

Why do you want to be an EMT before medical school? ›

You'll learn how to deal with patients effectively. You'll become comfortable in healthcare settings and gain confidence in navigating life-and-death situations. Medical students who were EMTs are able to adjust more successfully to their clinical rotations than their peers who only had limited patient experience.

Why would you be a good EMT? ›

To make quick and accurate decisions that could save lives, EMTs must be able to remain calm and level headed during emergencies. Getting wrapped up in the drama of a situation could cause the EMT to miss something important or make a mistake. Being a strong communicator is a crucial aspect of being a successful EMT.

What to bring to an EMT interview? ›

WHAT TO BRING TO THE INTERVIEW
  • All documents (ALL certs, resume, additional documents.) you have possibly already submitted, MAKE 3-4 COPIES. Interviewers sometimes do not get these documents, only Human Resources gets them sometimes. (The documents listed above). ...
  • Black Ink Pen.
  • Show up at least 30 minutes early.

Why do I want to be a first responder? ›

Reward: Make a Difference

First responders tend to be highly satisfied with the work they do. This is probably because their work is so important to society. As an EMT, you could provide life-saving care to patients on a regular basis. You can be confident that you're making a positive difference.

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