Implementation of EMS Interventions

Reaffirmed by the ACEP Board of Directors September 1998, September 2003, and June 2010
Originally approved by the ACEP Board of Directors June 1992 

The American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) encourages the continuous development and improvement of emergency medical services (EMS) systems. The implementation of EMS equipment, medications, and procedures should be patient centered and evidence based.

To help ensure quality care, ACEP believes that EMS systems should adopt devices, medications, and procedures only after carefully considering multiple factors. These factors include available evidence on safety, cost for implementation, and effectiveness in the out-of-hospital setting. Further, out-of-hospital care providers and EMS physician medical directors should participate in the ongoing evaluation of EMS interventions.