Rural-Urban Differences in Characteristics of Local EMS Agencies

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BACKGROUND

This Findings Brief describes the general characteristics of local rural EMS agencies and important ways that they differ from the characteristics of agencies located in urban areas. The data are from a national survey of 1,425 local EMS directors that was conducted in 2006-07. KEY FINDINGS

  • Rural EMS agencies typically serve a smaller population than urban agencies, but the land area they cover is substantially larger.
  • More than 88% of all EMS organizations are not-for-profit and rural and urban agencies are equally likely to be not-for-profit.
  • Rural EMS agencies are more likely to be freestanding or affiliated with a hospital while those in urban areas tend to be affiliated with other public services such as the fire or police department.
  • While over 95% of all EMS agencies provide 911 emergency response, it is more common for rural EMS agencies to provide both non-emergency transport and interfacility transfer services compared to urban agencies.
  • The types of vehicles used differs between rural and urban EMS agencies. Most EMS agencies surveyed have ambulances, but urban providers are more likely to use quick response vehicles, which are common among fire department-based EMS organizations.
  • Directors of rural EMS agencies were less likely to report that thir agency is fully staffed.
  • Rural EMS agencies are significantly more likely to be staffed entirely by volunteers who are not paid on a regular basis. Among volunteer agencies, those located in rural areas are more likely to sometimes pay volunteer emergency medical technicians (EMTs) and paramedics, often by a flat rate or an hourly rate when on a run.
  • More than three-quarters of all EMS agencies, regardless of location, have paramedics or intermediate-level EMTs. However, rural EMS agencies are more likely to use only basic-level EMTs