Projects

Summary

The Center for International Emergency Medical Services (CIEMS) was created in the interest of furthering emergency medical services around the world. We believe that there are five roles for CIEMS in support of global emergency medical services:

1. Collect and disseminate information on existing EMS systems and associated infrastructure elements on a global scale through a Global EMS Information System (GEMSIS) project.
2. Facilitate the creation of best practices guidelines for International EMS research and development.
3. Serve as a forum through which those working in the field of International EMS may share ideas with one another and engage in personnel recruitment.
4. Coordinate research and development projects internationally.
5. Provide clear and accurate information to international travelers on available emergency medical services in the region to which they will be traveling, and how to best access and use those services.

Curricula and Guidelines

A product of the Community that the Center is working to create will be the authoring of best practices guidelines for International EMS research and development. We hope that these guidelines will serve as a comprehensive information resource for those working in or thinking of entering the field.

Through this program, we plan to encourage the expansion of international EMS programs and training to provide services beyond the strict scope of emergency services to fill gaps in locally available health care, especially in the provision of preventive medicine services. Such services include but are not limited to running rapid tests for infectious diseases, administering vaccinations, and providing public health education.

EMS Information for Travelers

Coming soon: Information for International travelers on how best to access and use international emergency medical services.

CDC Advice on Seeking Medical Care Internationally

Global EMS Information System

The Global EMS Information System (GEMSIS) will allow anyone working in the field of International emergency medical services to contribute to centralized collection and disseminate information on existing EMS systems and associated infrastructure elements on a global scale.

We are in the process of developing a standardized systems and infrastructure assessment instrument (Developing Nation EMS Evaluation) that can be applied by any traveling or local researcher. By collecting several independent assessments of each country we will establish a high degree of inter-rater reliability.

Further, GEMSIS will allow developers to determine if any EMS development projects are underway in a given country or region and contribute to collaborative planning by facilitating communication between the staff of existing projects while providing a springboard for new projects so that they complement existing efforts.