EMS systems: Foundations for the future

Emergency medical services (EMS) occupy a unique position in the continuum of emergency health care delivery. The role of EMS personnel is expanding b eyond their traditional identity as out-of-hospital care providers, to incl ude participation and active leadership in EMS administration, education, a nd research. With these roles come new challenges, as well as new responsib ilities. This paper was developed by the SAEM EMS Task Force and provides a discussion of these new concepts as well as recommendations for the specia lty of emergency medicine to foster the continued development of all of the potentials of EMS.