The mission of the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) and Trauma Section is to encourage, foster, and promote the continued development of an optimal system of emergency medical and trauma care which provides the best possible patient outcome. The EMS and Trauma Section coordinates and regulates the personnel, facilities, and equipment for the effective and coordinated delivery of emergency medical and trauma care in order to optimize the patient's chances of survival and to limit the threat of permanent disability.

The Emergency Medical Services Section provides services mandated by the Official Code of Georgia Annotated Title 31, Chapter 11, the Georgia Department of Human Resources Rules and Regulations Chapter 290-5-30, and Georgia Health Code 88-31 to license, re-license, and monitor Ambulance Services, Medical First Responders, and Neonatal Transport Services; approve training course curriculum and requirements for the certification and re-certification of Emergency Medical Technicians (EMT-B) and (EMT-I), Paramedics and the re-certification only of Cardiac Technicians (CT).

Program Objectives

• To provide and maintain support for regional planning, development, expansion and improvement to each of the ten EMS regions;
• To provide statewide coordination of training programs;
• To provide technical support within each EMS region for the establishment of region-wide medial control of the EMS system;
• To provide for annual assessment of regional planning and development in each EMS region;
• To assure continued system development and quality improvement;
• To incorporate the special needs of children in EMS system development;
• To provide an integrated EMS Information System for local, regional and state planning and evaluation of system development.