United States of America

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Land Area: 9,372,000 sq km.
Population(2001est): 278,058,881
Population Density/sq km: 29
Life Expectancy at birth-Male: 74.37
Life Expectancy at birth-Female: 78.7
Birth Rate: 14.2/1000
Death Rate: 8.7/1000
Expend. on health (1997) % of GDP: 13.9
Literacy: 97%

Source in English
http://www.countryreports.org

National Vital Health Statistics (Centre of Disease Control)
http://www.cdc.gov

U.S.A. Prehospital Links
U.S. Dept.of Health & Human Sciences
U.S. Dept.of Transportation, EMS Agenda for the Future
U.S. NHTSA Research & Evaluation Paper
National Association of EMT's (NAEMT)
National Association of EMS Educators (NAEMSE)

Reference Publications (posted June 13th, 2005)

Authors: Pozner CN. Zane R. Nelson SJ. Levine M.

Institution: C.N. Pozner, Department of Emergency Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School 75, Francis Street, Boston, MA 02115; United States. E-Mail: cpozner@partners.org.

Title: International EMS Systems: The United States: Past, present, and future.


Source: Resuscitation. Vol. 60(3)(pp 239-244), 2004.

Abstract: Emergency medical services (EMS) is an organised system designed to transport sick or injured patients to the hospital. Though EMS system configurations can be quite varied in design depending on locale, we provide an overview of EMS as it has evolved and is currently modelled in the US. We outline the history of EMS in the US, including the major events and legislation that shaped the current models that are in existence. We provide an overview of provider training, system design, system funding, and dispatch issues. The concepts of medical direction for physician surrogates, as well as EMS as it relates to specialty care are also elucidated. (C) 2003 Published by Elsevier Ireland Ltd.