Historical Foundations of Rural EMS System Challenges
- ASU Author/Contributor (non-ASU co-authors, if there are any, appear on document)
- Jefferson Phillips (Creator)
- Institution
- Appalachian State University (ASU )
- Web Site: https://library.appstate.edu/
- Advisor
- Amy Rutenberg
Abstract: This thesis studies the historical origins of ambulance services through their evolution to modern emergency medical services systems with an emphasis on the differentiation of urban and rural emergency services and eventually EMS systems in the United States. This study aims to provide a historical explanation behind many of the challenges faced by contemporary American EMS systems operated in rural environments by demonstrating a historical schism between rural and urban systems, and also advocates for increased federal support of EMS systems in order to ensure a uniform standard of emergency care in all parts of the country. This schism is found to be the root of many common challenges faced by rural EMS systems today. This is accomplished by the analysis of historical sources relevant to ambulance and EMS system operations in the United States as well as analyses of modern EMS system operations that examine the differences in operations of rural and urban systems.The challenges faced by rural ambulance services originate in the urban-centric origin of U.S. ambulance services and EMS legislation, despite the mainly rural, war-time origins of emergency services in general. This thesis concludes that the most promising method of establishing equal footing for both systems is stronger federal guidance and increased federal funding of rural EMS systems, so that a rural-centric model of EMS systems can be established.
Historical Foundations of Rural EMS System Challenges
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Created on 8/26/2015
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Additional Information
- Publication
- Honors Project
- Phillips, J. (2015) Historical Foundations of Rural EMS System Challenges. Unpublished honors thesis. Appalachian State University, Boone, NC.
- Language: English
- Date: 2015