Recommended Essential Equipment for Basic Life Support and Advanced Life Support Ground Ambulances 2020: A Joint...

Area of Science:

• Emergency Medical Services (EMS)
• Clinical Practice Guidelines
• Healthcare Standards

Background:

• Organizations are committed to establishing and maintaining standards of care through periodic review and revision of position statements.
• The current revision supports the foundation for these standards.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify essential equipment for delivering care as defined by the National Model EMS Clinical Guidelines Version 2.2.
• To ensure congruity with national definitions of provider scope of practice.

Main Methods:

• A structured review of the National Model EMS Clinical Guidelines Version 2.2 was performed.
• Equipment items were identified based on the guidelines.
• The list was differentiated into Basic Life Support (BLS) and Advanced Life Support (ALS) levels, utilizing national scope of practice definitions.
• Equipment was cross-checked against recommended scopes of practice for each level (Emergency Medical Responder, Emergency Medical Technician, Advanced EMT, Paramedic).

Main Results:

• A differentiated list of equipment necessary for BLS and ALS levels of care was established.
• Equipment was appropriately categorized based on national provider scope of practice definitions.
• Some items may be considered optional based on local agency-defined scope of practice and clinical guidelines.

Conclusions:

• The position statement provides a foundation for standards of care by defining necessary EMS equipment.
• Agencies should ensure equipment quantities are determined by medical directors, appropriate to the level of care, and aligned with approved protocols.