ABSTRACT
During the past 30 years, emergency medical services (EMS) in the United States have experienced explosive growth. The American health care system is now transforming, providing an opportune time to examine what we have learned over the past three decades in order to create a vision for the future of EMS. Over the course of several months, a multidisciplinary steering committee collaborated with hundreds of EMS-interested individuals, organizations, and agencies to develop the "EMS Agenda for the Future." Fourteen EMS attributes were identified as requiring continued development in order to realize the vision established within the Agenda. They are Integration of Health Services, EMS Research, Legislation and Regulation, System Finance, Human Resources, Medical Direction, Education Systems, Public Education, Prevention, Public Access, Communication Systems, Clinical Care, Information Systems, and Evaluation. Discussion of these attributes provides important guidance for achieving a vision for the future of EMS that emphasizes its critical role in American health care. [Delbridge TR, Bailey B, Chew JL Jr, Conn AKT, Krakeel JJ, Manz D, Miller DR, O'Malley PJ, Ryan SD, Spaite DW, Stewart RD, Suter RE, Wilson EM: EMS agenda for the future: Where we are where we want to be. Ann Emerg Med February 1998;31:251-263.].
ABSTRACT
Primary care physicians and those involved in emergency medical services are frecuently called upon to provide medical care at large crowd events. For the most rapid and effective emergency assistance - and to help ensure a positive outcome - on site emergency medical teams are recommended by Dr. Whipkey and associates. However, they stress the importance of having an overall plan for delivery of emergency care at mass gatherings, and their article serves as a guide through this essential planning process
