Emergency Medical Services Cover Many Fields of Service
Whether fire based, third service or a private entity, emergency medical services or EMS, have always delivered more than the name implies. Emergency medical care is the main mission of EMS. This can be in the form of advanced life support or ALS, which can include the paramedic using advanced skills such as IV placement, airway intubation, delivery of life saving drugs and defibrillation of the heart during cardiac emergencies. This is typically the highest level of care.
Some services run basic life support or BLS units. A basic life support unit can be used for initial stabilization of the patient until the ALS unit arrives or the basic life support unit can run the whole call. BLS units are typically staffed by EMTs. The EMT usually is not as well trained as a paramedic but they still have the skill sets to make a difference where needed.
Some emergency medical services, especially private services provide basic transport between various facilities such as a hospital to a nursing home or transport of patients to doctor or dialysis appointments. Depending on the level of care the patient may need, this transport can be by an ALS unit, a BLS unit or even a wheelchair van.