Prehospital Emergency Medical Services Personnel: Comparing Rural and Urban Professional Experience and Provision of Evidence-Based Care


  • Abstract

    Rural populations frequently reside greater distances from emergency rooms, creating a need for timely and evidence-based pre-hospital emergency medical services (EMS). Longer distances to definitive care mean that rural EMS professionals often require greater skill levels than their urban counterparts. Yet rural EMS systems tend to have fewer resources, rely more heavily on volunteer staff, and have fewer personnel trained at higher levels. This study describes the relationship between prehospital emergency medical services (EMS) providers’ accumulated experience and provision of evidence-based care for rural and urban populations. Results can inform policies for ensuring that rural populations have timely and appropriate access to high-quality prehospital emergency care.


  • Authors:

    Patterson DG, Nudell N, Garberson LA, Andrilla CHA

  • Journal/Publisher:

    WWAMI Rural Health Research Center, University of Washington

  • Edition:

    May 2022.

  • Documents:

    Policy Brief

  • Citation:

    Patterson DG, Nudell N, Garberson LA, Andrilla CHA. Prehospital Emergency Medical Services Personnel: Comparing Rural and Urban Professional Experience and Provision of Evidence-Based Care. WWAMI Rural Health Research Center, University of Washington, May 2022.

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    Prehospital Emergency Medical Services Personnel: Comparing Rural and Urban Provider Experience and Provision of Evidence-based Care