Reading, MA — From the Reading Fire Department Facebook Page, “This week is National EMS week! We would like to recognize all of the Reading Fire Department EMTs and Paramedics for the work that they do providing care to the community and its visitors!”
From EMS.gov – Emergency Medical Services, more commonly known as EMS, is a system that responds to emergencies in need of highly skilled pre-hospital clinicians.
But EMS clinicians aren’t just the first healthcare practitioner on the scene; they’re often the first to identify a healthcare crisis in a community and act as a critical component of emergency management and, increasingly, a practitioner of community healthcare.
EMS is most recognizable by its vehicles, helicopters and workforce, which respond to emergency incidents. But far from being simply a ride to the emergency department (ED), this system of coordinated response and emergency medical care involves numerous people and agencies. A comprehensive EMS system is ready every day for every kind of emergency, whether or not that includes going to the hospital.
Despite a robust ecosystem of its own, EMS does not exist in isolation. It integrates with other services and systems intended to enhance the community’s health and safety. As seen in the graphic below, EMS operates at the crossroads of healthcare, public health, emergency management and public safety.
