Types of EMS Agencies Licensed by States
EMS agencies can be classified based on the primary type
of EMS service they provide. EMS agency types can be
divided into three main groups: (1) EMS agencies responding
to 911-based emergencies with or without transport; (2)
EMS agencies that provide scheduled medical transport,
often referred to as non-emergent transport; and (3) EMS
agencies known as Specialty Care Transport that provide
emergent inter-facility transport from one healthcare facility
to another. States frequently license Emergency Medical
Dispatch (EMD) Centers. EMD Centers do not provide EMS
transportation but do provide online medical care, and
thus are considered a type of EMS agency.