What is EMS
Emergency Medical Services, more commonly known as EMS, is an integral part of the healthcare system in your community. The EMS system consists of licensed providers at the Emergency Medical Technician (EMT), Advanced Emergency Medical Technician (AEMT) and Paramedic levels with additional credentials to serve specialty areas as well.
Pre-hospital emergency care allows individuals that are experiencing a significant medical or traumatic incident to receive care prior to, and while enroute, to the community hospital’s emergency department. These health care practitioners can provide and advancing level of care based on the licensure level including many advanced treatments reserved for the most serious patients.
As an individual looking to join the EMS system, you are looking to join the elite operations of healthcare, as we are called to treat patients in a variety of conditions from their home setting, to a those such as vehicle collisions on a major roadway, water incidents, professional sporting events to name just a few.
If you are a caring and compassionate individual that is looking for an opportunity to get into the health care profession, make an impact in your community and help a neighbor in need, EMS is right for you. Look below to see how to get started.
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How to Get Started (if you are new to the profession)
The pathway into the profession starts with EMT, continues to AEMT, and then Paramedic.
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You will start by making application to a state approved initial EMS Education location. There are several in the region that you can see below. Upon successful completion, you will complete the application requirements for the State of Tennessee and the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technician’s cognitive and psychomotor examinations.
Are you licensed as an EMT or Advanced EMT and want to go to the next level, you will return to the initial education institution and attend the next level. Each institution has a different start so be in contact with each.
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How to Get Started (if you are licensed and coming from out of state)
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The State Office of EMS publishes the Reciprocity Requirements for EMS Professional License. That document is located:
https://www.tn.gov/content/dam/tn/health/healthprofboards/ems/Reciprocity.pdf
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R2 EMS Educational Locations
American Medical Response
Levels Available: EMT and Advanced EMT
10140 Gallows Point Way
Knoxville, TN 37931
(865) 573-5779
Anderson County EMS
Levels Available: EMT and Advanced EMT
314 Public Safety Lane
Clinton, TN 37716
(865) 457-9701
Jefferson County EMS
Levels Available: EMT and Advanced EMT
581 West Old Andrew Johnson Highway
New Market TN, 37820
(865) 471-9001
Priority Ambulance Service
Levels Available: EMT and Advanced EMT
910 Callahan Drive
Knoxville, TN 37912
(865) 688-4999
Roane State Community College (multiple campuses)
Levels Available: EMS, Advanced EMT and Paramedic
132 Hayfield Road
Knoxville, TN 37922
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Walters State Community College (multiple campuses)
Levels Available: EMT, Advanced EMT and Paramedic
500 Davey Crockett Parkway
Morristown, TN
https://www.ws.edu/academics/public-safety/medical-services/
(423) 585-2671
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Additional Resources:
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State of Tennessee Office of EMS: https://www.tn.gov/health/health-program-areas/health-professional-boards/ems-board.html
National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians: www.nremt.org
National Association of EMTs: www.naemt.org
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