Medical Subject Headings (MeSH): Emergency Medical Services

Emergency medical services (EMS) in healthcare refer to the out-of-hospital care provided to individuals who have experienced an illness or injury and need immediate medical attention. It includes emergency medical technicians (EMTs) and paramedics who provide care and transportation to patients who need emergency medical treatment. They work in ambulances, helicopters, and other emergency vehicles, and are dispatched to the scene of an emergency, such as a car accident or a heart attack.

EMS in healthcare can include a wide range of services, such as:

Basic life support (BLS) which involves providing care such as cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), bleeding control, and immobilization of fractures.

Advanced life support (ALS) which involves providing more advanced care such as administering medication, intubation, and defibrillation.

Critical care transport, which is the transportation of critically ill or injured patients to a higher level of care such as a trauma center or a specialty hospital.

EMS professionals are trained to recognize and respond to a variety of medical conditions and injuries, and to provide care quickly and efficiently in order to stabilize patients before they are transported to a hospital for further treatment. They also play an important role in providing care in mass casualty incidents or natural disasters.

EMS in healthcare is a critical service that is needed to provide immediate medical attention in emergency situations, and can save lives and improve patient outcomes.