EMS Research

KEY LEARNING POINTS • Resources needed for EMS research are 1. Skilled researchers. 2. Adequate funding. 3. Appreciation for and demand by EMS professionals for evidence-based practice. 4. Integrated information systems, including links to patient outcomes, and 5. An environment and processes that support ethical research, including ethics review and approval. • EMS is uniquely positioned for research at the intersection of medical care, emergency services, and public health. Much EMS research is oriented toward population health. • Finding methodologically sound avenues to integrate medical care and research is essential to understanding how to deliver the safest and most effective EMS care. • Much work has been undertaken in the areas of cardiac arrest, trauma, and pediatrics. Emerging areas of investigation include stroke, public health, and field triage on medical necessity whether that be performed at the scene or via telephone. • The future will see an emphasis on multicenter and multinational EMS research