Emergency Medical Services Authority
Encyclopedia
EMSA - the Emergency Medical Services Authority - is Oklahoma
's largest provider of pre-hospital emergency medical care. EMSA provides ambulance
service to more than 1.1 million residents in central and northeast Oklahoma.
EMSA was established in Tulsa
in 1977 and later expanded to include Bixby, Jenks and Sand Springs in Oklahoma. EMSA began providing service to Oklahoma City
in 1990. Each year, EMSA responds to more than 110,000 calls for help. EMSA transports more than 70,000 patients by ambulance each year.
The Authority: EMSA, the Authority, provides independent business oversight and ensures compliance of a private ambulance service chosen to operate in the service area. The Authority does not provide ambulance service, but rather acts as an informed and impartial buyer of service for the cities it represents. The Authority also owns ambulances and other capital equipment used by the private contractor to provide service. EMSA also manages agreements, maintains patient records, bills and collects, purchases goods and services and manages the TotalCare ambulance subscription program and makes policy recommendations.
Employees of the Authority report to and follow the direction of the 11-member EMSA Board of Trustees. The mayors of Tulsa and Oklahoma City appoint eight of the 11 trustees.
The City of Oklahoma City and The City of Tulsa: In addition to appointing individuals to serve on the EMSA Board of Trustees, the Cities must approve any changes to EMSA Trust Agreement, which governs EMSA operations.
The medical director: An independent medical director provides medical oversight of the private ambulance company selected by the Authority and first responders (firefighter
s assisting in patient assessment and stabilization). The medical director conducts routine audits and testing of all medics practicing in the system, writes seamless protocols to ensure the continuity of care between first responders and transport medics, researches new treatment modalities and evaluates complaints.
The medical director reports to the Medical Control Board, an organization composed of nine community physicians (eight of whom work in metropolitan hospital emergency departments) who serve voluntarily.
The contracted provider: Since 1998, Paramedics Plus LLC has provided ambulance service for the Authority. Paramedics Plus is committed, by contract, to meet response times and other standards set forth by the Authority and the medical director.
Paramedics Plus is a wholly owned subsidiary of East Texas Medical Center (ETMC), based in Tyler, Texas. ETMC is a not-for-profit organization that operates the nation's second-largest rural EMS system with a service area spanning more than 17000 square miles (44,029.8 km²).
Oklahoma
Oklahoma is a state located in the South Central region of the United States of America. With an estimated 3,751,351 residents as of the 2010 census and a land area of 68,667 square miles , Oklahoma is the 28th most populous and 20th-largest state...
's largest provider of pre-hospital emergency medical care. EMSA provides ambulance
Ambulance
An ambulance is a vehicle for transportation of sick or injured people to, from or between places of treatment for an illness or injury, and in some instances will also provide out of hospital medical care to the patient...
service to more than 1.1 million residents in central and northeast Oklahoma.
EMSA was established in Tulsa
Tulsa, Oklahoma
Tulsa is the second-largest city in the state of Oklahoma and 46th-largest city in the United States. With a population of 391,906 as of the 2010 census, it is the principal municipality of the Tulsa Metropolitan Area, a region with 937,478 residents in the MSA and 988,454 in the CSA. Tulsa's...
in 1977 and later expanded to include Bixby, Jenks and Sand Springs in Oklahoma. EMSA began providing service to Oklahoma City
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Oklahoma City is the capital and the largest city in the state of Oklahoma. The county seat of Oklahoma County, the city ranks 31st among United States cities in population. The city's population, from the 2010 census, was 579,999, with a metro-area population of 1,252,987 . In 2010, the Oklahoma...
in 1990. Each year, EMSA responds to more than 110,000 calls for help. EMSA transports more than 70,000 patients by ambulance each year.
Structure
EMSA is a public trust authority of the City of Tulsa and City of Oklahoma City governments. It is the Authority's charged duty to ensure that the cities served receive the highest quality of emergency medical service at the best possible price. There are several entities that work together in the EMSA system, including:The Authority: EMSA, the Authority, provides independent business oversight and ensures compliance of a private ambulance service chosen to operate in the service area. The Authority does not provide ambulance service, but rather acts as an informed and impartial buyer of service for the cities it represents. The Authority also owns ambulances and other capital equipment used by the private contractor to provide service. EMSA also manages agreements, maintains patient records, bills and collects, purchases goods and services and manages the TotalCare ambulance subscription program and makes policy recommendations.
Employees of the Authority report to and follow the direction of the 11-member EMSA Board of Trustees. The mayors of Tulsa and Oklahoma City appoint eight of the 11 trustees.
The City of Oklahoma City and The City of Tulsa: In addition to appointing individuals to serve on the EMSA Board of Trustees, the Cities must approve any changes to EMSA Trust Agreement, which governs EMSA operations.
The medical director: An independent medical director provides medical oversight of the private ambulance company selected by the Authority and first responders (firefighter
Firefighter
Firefighters are rescuers extensively trained primarily to put out hazardous fires that threaten civilian populations and property, to rescue people from car incidents, collapsed and burning buildings and other such situations...
s assisting in patient assessment and stabilization). The medical director conducts routine audits and testing of all medics practicing in the system, writes seamless protocols to ensure the continuity of care between first responders and transport medics, researches new treatment modalities and evaluates complaints.
The medical director reports to the Medical Control Board, an organization composed of nine community physicians (eight of whom work in metropolitan hospital emergency departments) who serve voluntarily.
The contracted provider: Since 1998, Paramedics Plus LLC has provided ambulance service for the Authority. Paramedics Plus is committed, by contract, to meet response times and other standards set forth by the Authority and the medical director.
Paramedics Plus is a wholly owned subsidiary of East Texas Medical Center (ETMC), based in Tyler, Texas. ETMC is a not-for-profit organization that operates the nation's second-largest rural EMS system with a service area spanning more than 17000 square miles (44,029.8 km²).