Reports and publications
2022 King County EMS Annual Report (8 Mb, PDF)
The 2022 Annual Report highlights just some of the activities undertaken by the EMS Division and its partners to deliver excellent medical services, improve operations, and address regional and community concerns. A theme that has shown itself over the past year is the system’s combined ability to press on and support the community despite being faced daily with new challenges. This year’s report underscores the many ways that the region has come together to collectively address the needs of our communities, and strive to do more, regardless of the demands.
- 2020-2025 Strategic Plan
On June 26, 2019, the King County Council unanimously passed both the Medic One/EMS 2020-2025 Strategic Plan and the EMS levy measures, clearing the way for the 6-year, 26.5-cent EMS levy to be placed on the November 2019 general election ballot.
The Plan and levy are the direct result of an extensive process recently undertaken by regional leaders, decision-makers and Stakeholders, to ensure the EMS system can continue meetings its commitments into the future.
The levy rate of 26.5 cents/$1,000 AV means that an owner of a $500,00 home in the region will pay $133 in 2020 for some of the nation’s most highly-trained medical personnel to arrive within minutes of an emergency, at any time of day or night, no matter where in King County.
For more information on the EMS Strategic Plan and levy proposal, please contact Helen Chatalas, Assistant EMS Division Director, at helen.chatalas@kingcounty.gov, 206-263-8560. You may also use our online contact form.
- Medic One/EMS 2014-2019 Strategic Plan
The Medic One/EMS 2014-2019 Strategic Plan is the primary policy and financial document that will direct the Medic One/EMS system into the future. The Plan provides a general description of the programmatic services to be supported throughout the levy period, and a financial plan to implement the recommendations. As the result of a nine-month all-inclusive planning process, the Strategic Plan reflects the collaborative efforts from public and private regional partners, cities, the King County Executive and the EMS Division.
- Medic One/EMS 2008-2013 Strategic Plan
The Medic One/EMS 2008-2013 Strategic Plan is the primary policy and financial document that will direct the Medic One/EMS system into the future. It details the system's current accomplishments, and recommends the necessary steps to ensure the system can meet tomorrow's commitments.
- 2003 Supplemental Plan to the 2002 Strategic Plan Update
- 2002 Strategic Plan Update of the 1998-2003 EMS Strategic Plan
- Financial Review & Compliance Audit of the 2011 Emergency Medical Services Levy
The King County Auditor's Office released its EMS levy Financial Review and Compliance audit. For the fourth year in a row, findings were positive. The Auditor reported that the financial operations continue to be managed in accordance with the EMS levy financial plan and policies. The Auditor's mid-levy review confirmed that adequate funds will be available for the duration of the current levy, and reported that the EMS Division has made substantial progress in implementing the 2008 and 2009 EMS levy audit recommendations.
- 2010 Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Levy Financial and Compliance Audit
The King County Auditor's office completed its 2011 review of the 2010 EMS financial practices and costs of EMS dispatch services provided primarily by two independently operated dispatch agencies. Results were again favorable and supportive, with the Auditor concluding that EMS financial operations were managed in accordance with the EMS Levy financial plan and policies, and that the EMS Division responded effectively to an unanticipated increase in dispatch costs with designated reserves in 2010, and establishing a reserve to cover costs for the remainder of the 2008 to 2013 levy period.
- 2009 Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Levy Financial and Compliance Audit
The King County Auditor's office completed its review of the King County EMS fund and Strategic Initiatives. Results were positive, with the Auditor concluding that the EMS fund was managed consistent with the financial policies, and that Strategic Initiatives were achieving the EMS objectives of improving patient care, managing the rate of growth on the system, and containing costs.
- EMS Levy Accomplishments: 2002-2007
Our past newsletter provided an updated snapshot of our EMS system. We want to show what is happening, and where. However, King County EMS is a large, complex and active system of providers and partnerships, each as important as the next — it's difficult to report on each and every component of the system and still keep a newsletter a reasonable size. Therefore, it is our intention to provide a representative highlight from our main program areas as described in our 2008-2013 Strategic Plan - Advanced Life Support (ALS), Basic Life Support (BLS), Regional Services, and Strategic Initiatives - and also cover other ongoing topics of importance.
Every aspect of EMS can't be covered in a single newsletter, but information on any/all of our programs is only a phone call or visit away. Please feel free to contact us at any time at 206-296-4693.
James G. Fogarty
Division Director, Emergency Medical Services
- EMS Strategic Plan
- Cardiac Case Review
- Planning for the next Medic One /EMS Levy
- EMS Advisory Task Force Membership
- EMT Quality Improvement (QI)
- EMS Vehicle Network Upgrade
- Other items of interest
- EMT & Paramedic Recognition
- EMS Strategic Plan
- Redmond Medic One's Cardiac Arrest Initiative
- Community Medical Technician, Phase II
- King County Council Proposes Amending EMS Advisory Task Force Membership
- Maximizing Joint Purchasing Power
- State of the KC EMS Levy Fund and Proposed 2012 Budget
- Teaching CPR in Schools - The Program Works!
- Paramedic Recognition
- EMS Advisory Committee
- Regional Purchasing Program
- Resuscitation Academy
- Cardiac Arrest Registry to Enhance Survival (CARES)
- May 15-21 is National EMS Week
- EMS Advisory Committee
- Regional Purchasing Program
- Medical Goals for 2011
- SEND Project
- Advancements in Public Access Defibrillation
- Reducing unnecessary calls from Skilled Nursing Facilities
- EMS Advisory Committee
- Regional Purchasing Program
- Small Grants Program Update
- EMS Advisory Committee
- Regional Purchasing Program
- EMS Levy Financial Audit
- EMS Advisory Committee
- Regional Purchasing Program
- Community Medical Technician
- The Dispatcher Assisted Resuscitation Trial (DART)
- 2010 EMS Annual Report
- The 50th Anniversary of CPR
- EMS Advisory Committee
- Regional Purchasing Program
- EMS Online
- EMS Levy Audit Response
- Police AED Program
- King County EMS Community Medical Technician Pilot III: Final Evaluation Report
As part of its commitment to provide the absolute best emergency medical care to the region, the Medic One/EMS system of Seattle and King County has undertaken strategies to more efficiently react and respond to various needs from the community. The Community Medical Technician (CMT) is one approach piloted over the course of two levy periods to test methods for managing the impact of low-acuity calls on the EMS system. This report highlights the outcomes of its most recent iteration, along with its development and transition under the umbrella term of Mobile Integrated Healthcare, or MIH.
For additional information on CMT or MIH, please contact Erik Friedrichsen at Erik.Friedrichsen@kingcounty.gov, or 206-263-1457.
- EMS reciprocity requirements for King County and Washington state
- EMT Basic: Washington state specific objectives
- Delivering Quality Emergency Services to Vulnerable Populations
Published by the University of Washington's Northwest Center for Public Health Practice, July 22, 2014.
Interested in a hard copy of our publications?
If you would like to receive a hard copy of any of these reports, please contact the EMS Division. Include your name, organization name, mailing address, quantity needed and phone or email address in case our staff need to contact you.
Submit your request to:
Helen Chatalas, EMS Levy Planner
helen.chatalas@kingcounty.gov
206-263-8560
Street address:
Emergency Medical Services
ATTN: Helen Chatalas
401 5th Ave, Suite 1200
Seattle, WA, 98104