TABLE 1.
Characteristics of the EMS agencies included in the study
| Characteristic | Agency A | Agency B | Agency C | Agency D |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Service type | 911 and medical transport | 911 response | 911 response | 911 response |
| Levels of certification employed | EMT, AEMT, Paramedic | EMT, AEMT, Paramedic | AEMT, Paramedic | EMT, AEMT, Paramedic |
| Urbanicity | Large city | Large city | Midsized city | Suburb of large city |
| Annual number of EMS responses, 2018 | 149,680 | 107,432 | 6500 | 68,245 |
| Annual number of EMS transports, 2018 | 114,091 | 71,884 | 3422 | 54,596 |
| Number of employees in EMS roles, 2018 | 415 | 420 | 115 | 243 |
| Average daily number of EMS response unitsa | 101 | 53 | 12 | 26 |
| Average daily responses per EMS unit | 4.1 | 5.6 | 1.5 | 7.2 |
| Average daily number of EMS transport unitsb | 90 | 42 | 10 | 20 |
| Average daily transports per EMS transport unit | 3.5 | 4.7 | 0.9 | 7.5 |
| Shift duration | 12 hours | 12 hours | 24 hours | 24 hours |
| EMS crew configuration | 2 person | 2 person | 3 person | 2 person |
aThe average number of EMS response units (vehicles that may or may not be capable of transporting a patient such as quick response vehicle or ambulance) deployed per day.
bThe average number of EMS transport units (vehicles that can transport a patient, ie, ambulances) deployed per day.
Abbreviations: AEMT, advanced emergency medical technician; EMS, emergency medical services; EMT, emergency medical technician.