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  1. Emergency Medical Services (EMS)
  2. Regional groups and meetings

Regional groups and meetings

The Medic One/Emergency Medical Services (EMS) system in King County is built on regional, collaborative and cross-jurisdictional partnerships to provide one of the best pre-hospital emergency care in the nation. While EMS agencies operate individually and retain much autonomy, they all work within a seamless system to provide a continuum of standardized medical care across jurisdictions. It is our partners' commitment to working collectively that has allowed us to build and sustain a truly amazing system.

Integral to the system's success is the allegiance to cooperative decision-making. The EMS Division actively engages with its many Medic One/EMS Stakeholders to discuss policies and procedures, review economic forecasts and financial plans, oversee major governance issues, and implement the regional Strategic Plan. Whether through informal workgroups or established oversight committees, we aim to ensure partners have ample opportunities to help shape and direct the future of the EMS system.

Formed in 1997, the EMS Advisory Committee (EMSAC) monitors the uniformity and consistency of the Medic One/EMS system. It consists of approximately 20 members representing all aspects of the EMS system and provides key counsel to the EMS Division regarding regional Medic One/EMS policies and practices in King County. Members convene on a quarterly basis to review implementation of the Strategic Plan as well as other proposals put forth, including Strategic Initiatives, consolidations and medic unit recommendations.

2018 EMSAC meetings (3rd Wednesday of the month, quarterly):

For more information, please contact Mary Alice Allenbach with the King County EMS Division at 206-263-8545, or maryalice.allenbach@kingcounty.gov.

Budget and finance directors make up the EMS Advisory Committee (EMSAC) Financial Subcommittee, which advises EMSAC on fiscal and budget issues. Among other issues, the subcommittee reviews economic forecasts, proposed financial plans, requests for reserves, and policies/procedures.

2018 EMSAC meetings (3rd Wednesday of the month, quarterly):

For more information, please contact either of the subcommittee co-chairs: Cynthia Bradshaw with the King County EMS Division at 206-263-8558 or cynthia.bradshaw@kingcounty.gov; or Stacie Martyn with Bellevue Fire at 425-452-7670, or SLMartyn@bellevuewa.gov.

The BLS Working Group meets regularly to examine and develop policies related to providing BLS services and its seamless integration with ALS. Representing a broad range of regional providers of varying size, constituencies and needs, these partners identify opportunities to enhance the BLS system as a whole, while recognizing its members' separate funding sources and local decision making.

Since its inception in 2015, the group has collaboratively developed the BLS Core Services and the Training and Medical Quality Improvement Initiatives, programs that support and engage BLS agencies while improving overall system effectiveness.

For information about the BLS Working Group, please contact Helen Chatalas with the King County EMS Division at 206-263-8560 or helen.chatalas@kingcounty.gov.

The Dispatch Review Committee (DRC) meets quarterly with its partners to collaborate on ways to improve the crucial first component of the EMS system – the 9-1-1 call centers. Members of the DRC include representatives from each of the call centers supporting EMS in King County outside of Seattle (NORCOM, Valley Com, and Port of Seattle), EMS providers (fire departments), paramedic providers, and King County EMS. In addition to improving the system, the DRC looks at current topics, future planning, revising the King County Criteria Based Dispatch Guidelines, and reviews calls and incidents that showcase the exceptional job our regional telecommunicators do on a daily basis.

For more information, contact Cleo Subido with the King County EMS Division at 206-263-8636, or cleo.subido@kingcounty.gov.

BLS program invoices (MS Excel)

BLS Core Services program overview (PDF)

Link/share our site at www.kingcounty.gov/ems/regional