Skip to main content

KingCounty.gov is an official government website.

Official government websites use .gov
Website addresses ending in .gov belong to official government organizations in the United States.
Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock or https:// means you've safely connected to the .gov website. Only share sensitive information on official, secure websites.
King County Washington home

About the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) system

Any time residents of Seattle and King County call 9-1-1 for a medical emergency, they are using the Medic One/Emergency Medical Services (EMS) system. Serving over 2.3 million people throughout the region, it offers uniform medical care regardless of location, incident circumstances, day of the week, or time of day. The system has garnered an international reputation for innovation and excellence and provides life-saving medical services on average every two minutes.

The system is managed by the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Division, Public Health — Seattle & King County and relies on collaborative partnerships with dispatch centers, fire departments, paramedic agencies, ambulance companies, and hospitals to make the program seamless and successful. These deep-rooted partnerships provide a continuum of consistent, standardized medical care that allows the system to excel and achieve the best possible patient outcomes.

The Medic One/EMS system in Seattle and King County uses a layered response (referred to as a tiered system) so that 9-1-1 callers receive medical care by the most appropriate care provider. Calls to 9-1-1 are received by dispatchers who use specific dispatch triage guidelines to determine the level of care required. Emergency Medical Technicians providing Basic Life Support (BLS) services are the "first responders" to an incident and provide immediate medical care. In more critical or life-threatening situations, such as cardiac arrest, paramedics providing Advanced Life Support (ALS) services respond to the scene. Once a patient is stabilized, it is determined whether they need further medical attention and transport is provided either by an ALS agency, BLS agency, or private ambulance.

About the EMS Division

The EMS Division manages the core Regional Services and Strategic Initiatives that support the key elements of the system. These services are essential to providing the highest quality out-of-hospital emergency care available.** They ensure that hospital patient care is delivered at the same standards across the region, regional policies and practices that reflect the diversity of needs are maintained, and local area service delivery is balanced with centralized interests.

The EMS Division consists of five coordinated sections that work together to provide integrated regional leadership. Collaborating with county partners, these teams manage and deliver data collection, analysis, and systemwide planning; medical oversight; training and education for EMTs, dispatch centers, and the public; community outreach to expand access to care; and research that advances best practices.  Thanks to the work of these professionals, King County is able to deliver high-quality, emergency medical services that are recognized nationwide for their excellence.

Also embedded within the EMS Division is King County Medic One, which provides paramedic services to south King County. King County Medic One is one of five paramedic providers in the regional EMS system. Its 78 paramedics work side-by-side with local fire department personnel to provide the highest-quality, cost-effective emergency medical care to those in need, 24 hours a day, every day of the year. Visit King County Medic One for more information.

** The EMS Division provides these services to all of King County outside the City of Seattle - all EMS services within the City of Seattle are coordinated through the Seattle Fire Department.

EMS Administration

King County Emergency Medical Services Administration section has direct administrative responsibility for the management and coordination of Regional activities, such as:

  • personnel and payroll
  • union negotiations
  • diversity management
  • issuance and management of policies and procedures
  • legal compliance and liability issues,
  • contract administration
  • long term financial planning
  • management of levy funds
  • strategic initiatives

The division directly oversees all divisional contracts, including those for three paramedic groups of Advanced Life Support (ALS) service provider agencies and for 21 Basic Life Support (BLS) provider agencies. The section maintains fiscal responsibilities including budget preparation, the projection of long term financial planning, and the management of levy funds.

The EMS Administration section coordinates services with other divisions of Public Health - Seattle & King County and other county agencies, councils, and offices such as the Prosecuting Attorney, King County Executive, Risk Management, and the King County Council. The division maintains close relationships with the University of Washington and Harborview Medical Center, and ongoing cooperation with local hospitals and medical providers.

Articles from the Public Health Insider blog