Northwest Georgia Public Health

Emergency Medical Services (EMS)

Mission

The mission of the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Section is to encourage, foster, and promote the continued development of an optimal system of emergency medical care which provides the best possible patient outcome. The EMS Section coordinates and regulates the personnel, facilities, and equipment for the effective and coordinated delivery of emergency medical services in order to optimize the patient's chances of survival and to limit the threat of permanent disability.

The EMS program addresses the need for the reduction of mortality and morbidity of persons experiencing medical emergencies and accidental injuries.

The Emergency Medical Services Section provides services mandated by the Official Code of Georgia Annotated Title 31, Chapter 31, the Georgia Department of Human Resources Rules and Regulations Chapter 290-5-30, and Georgia Health Code 88-31 to license, re-license, and monitor Ambulance Services, Medical First Responders, and Neonatal Transport Services; certify and recertify Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs); approve training course curriculum for certification, and establishment of recertification requirements for EMTs, Cardiac Technicians (CTs), and Paramedics (EMT-Ps).

Program Objectives

to provide and maintain support for regional development, expansion, and improvement to each of the ten EMS regions
to provide statewide coordination of training programs
to provide technical support within each EMS region for the establishment of region-wide medical control of the EMS system
to provide for annual assessment of regional development in each EMS region
to assure continued system development and quality improvement
to incorporate the special needs of children in EMS system development

This program provides statewide coordination of training programs for Emergency Medical Technicians and Paramedics. It also licenses all ambulance, first responder and neonatal services and provides a State Registry for EMTs.