Boston Emergency Medical Services
Encyclopedia
Boston Emergency Medical Services (Boston EMS) provides basic life support (BLS) and advanced life support
(ALS)units throughout the neighborhoods in the city of Boston, Massachusetts
, USA
. Boston EMS is a public safety agency responding to 911 calls alone or with the Boston Police and/or Boston Fire Departments dependent upon the nature of an incident. The agency employs over 400 emergency medical technician
s (EMT) and paramedic
s. Boston EMS is a bureau of the City of Boston Public Health Commission
and is a separate agency from the Boston Fire Department
. Boston EMS hires Massachusetts State certified EMTs by competitive examination and upon completion of the Boston EMS Recruit Academy, and then promotes paramedics from within the department. The department is managed by a command staff consisting of a Chief of Department, a Superintendent-in-Chief, and three Superintendents.
There are sixteen ambulance stations located throughout the city. Field operations are commanded by a Deputy Superintendent (Shift Commander) and assisted by Lieutenants/Captains (Field Supervisors).
Boston EMS maintains a fully staffed Special Operations Unit which includes medium rescue trucks, support trailers, ATV's and a bike team for special events and major incidents. In addition, several other specialized units provide logistical/technical support for Boston EMS operations, including a state-of-the-art Dispatch Operations Center located in Boston Police Headquarters, the Training Division, a Community Initiatives Office and Administration & Finance office. The Materials Management Unit provides 24-hour equipment/supply services and the Fleet Services Unit maintain an inventory of approximately 120 department vehicles. There are also Facilities and Communications Engineering sections.
Boston EMS is a unionized department with EMT's and Paramedics represented by the Boston Police Patrolman's Association, EMS Division; Support Services staff represented by AFSCME; and Command Staff represented by SENA.
Ambulance Service, formed in 1892, and it remained a division of the City of Boston Health & Hospitals Department through 1996, at which time Boston EMS became a bureau of the newly created Boston Public Health Commission.
After 36 years of service with Boston EMS, Chief of Department Richard Serino retired in October 2009 to accept the position of Deputy Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) after nomination and confirmation by the US Senate.
On January 25, 2010, Mayor Thomas Menino appointed Supt.-in-Chief James Hooley, a 32 year veteran of Boston EMS as the new Chief of Department. On June 7, 2010, Supt. Brendan Kearney was appointed Supt.in-Chief of the department.
Advanced Life Support
Advanced Life Support is a set of life-saving protocols and skills that extend Basic Life Support to further support the circulation and provide an open airway and adequate ventilation .-Components of ALS:These include:...
(ALS)units throughout the neighborhoods in the city of Boston, Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
, USA
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Boston EMS is a public safety agency responding to 911 calls alone or with the Boston Police and/or Boston Fire Departments dependent upon the nature of an incident. The agency employs over 400 emergency medical technician
Emergency medical technician
Emergency Medical Technician or Ambulance Technician are terms used in some countries to denote a healthcare provider of emergency medical services...
s (EMT) and paramedic
Paramedic
A paramedic is a healthcare professional that works in emergency medical situations. Paramedics provide advanced levels of care for medical emergencies and trauma. The majority of paramedics are based in the field in ambulances, emergency response vehicles, or in specialist mobile units such as...
s. Boston EMS is a bureau of the City of Boston Public Health Commission
Boston Public Health Commission
The Boston Public Health Commission, the oldest health department in the United States, is an independent public agency providing a wide range of health services and programs. It is governed by a seven-member board of health appointed by Boston's Mayor...
and is a separate agency from the Boston Fire Department
Boston Fire Department
The Boston Fire Department provides fire protection services for Boston, Massachusetts, USA. In addition to fire protection, the Boston Fire department also provides basic emergency medical services and respond to a variety of emergencies such as, but not limited to, motor vehicle accidents,...
. Boston EMS hires Massachusetts State certified EMTs by competitive examination and upon completion of the Boston EMS Recruit Academy, and then promotes paramedics from within the department. The department is managed by a command staff consisting of a Chief of Department, a Superintendent-in-Chief, and three Superintendents.
There are sixteen ambulance stations located throughout the city. Field operations are commanded by a Deputy Superintendent (Shift Commander) and assisted by Lieutenants/Captains (Field Supervisors).
Boston EMS maintains a fully staffed Special Operations Unit which includes medium rescue trucks, support trailers, ATV's and a bike team for special events and major incidents. In addition, several other specialized units provide logistical/technical support for Boston EMS operations, including a state-of-the-art Dispatch Operations Center located in Boston Police Headquarters, the Training Division, a Community Initiatives Office and Administration & Finance office. The Materials Management Unit provides 24-hour equipment/supply services and the Fleet Services Unit maintain an inventory of approximately 120 department vehicles. There are also Facilities and Communications Engineering sections.
Boston EMS is a unionized department with EMT's and Paramedics represented by the Boston Police Patrolman's Association, EMS Division; Support Services staff represented by AFSCME; and Command Staff represented by SENA.
History
Boston EMS traces its history to the Boston City HospitalBoston City Hospital
The Boston City Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts, was "intended for the use and comfort of poor patients, to whom medical care will be provided at the expense of the city, and .....
Ambulance Service, formed in 1892, and it remained a division of the City of Boston Health & Hospitals Department through 1996, at which time Boston EMS became a bureau of the newly created Boston Public Health Commission.
After 36 years of service with Boston EMS, Chief of Department Richard Serino retired in October 2009 to accept the position of Deputy Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) after nomination and confirmation by the US Senate.
On January 25, 2010, Mayor Thomas Menino appointed Supt.-in-Chief James Hooley, a 32 year veteran of Boston EMS as the new Chief of Department. On June 7, 2010, Supt. Brendan Kearney was appointed Supt.in-Chief of the department.