By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
  • Health
    • Mental Health
    Health
    Healthcare organizations are operating on slimmer profit margins than ever. One report in August showed that they are even lower than the beginning of the…
    Show More
    Top News
    stress management for healthcare workers
    3 Tips For Healthcare Professionals: How To Stay Beautiful, Healthy, and Happy
    November 2, 2021
    importance of relaxing on the weekend for your health
    Importance of Relaxing During the Weekend for Optimal Health
    March 25, 2022
    LASIK Eye Surgery
    What Is LASIK Eye Surgery?
    May 16, 2022
    Latest News
    The 6 Most Common Injuries Resulting from Motorcycle Accidents
    January 30, 2023
    6 Essential Strategies for Improving Your Medical Practice
    January 25, 2023
    Staying Positive While Living with Mesothelioma
    January 24, 2023
    The Many Health Benefits of Being Outdoors
    January 17, 2023
  • Policy and Law
    • Global Healthcare
    • Medical Ethics
    Policy and Law
    Get the latest updates about Insurance policies and Laws in the Healthcare industry for different geographical locations.
    Show More
    Top News
    Innovations and Cooperation for World Water Week
    September 3, 2013
    cigna
    Cigna’s Decision on Genetic Testing Exposes Educational Gaps in Today’s Healthcare
    August 21, 2013
    healthcare trends
    7 Healthcare Trends to Watch Out for in the Remainder of 2014
    September 10, 2014
    Latest News
    Simplifying the Genetic Testing Process: How At-Home Kits are Changing the Game
    January 25, 2023
    9 Hospitals That Have Introduced Green Initiatives
    January 25, 2023
    Why a Health Retreat Can Be the Best Medicine
    January 12, 2023
    Best Money-Saving Tips for Health Managers
    January 12, 2023
  • Medical Innovations
  • News
  • Wellness
  • Tech
Search
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Reading: What Is the Difference Between EMR and EMS?
Share
Sign In
Notification Show More
Latest News
investing in senior care
5 Reasons Why Investing in Senior Care Is a Wise Choice?
Senior Care
prevent birth injuries
Distressing Birth Injuries and How They Can Be Prevented
Women Health
reduce infertility risks
Lifestyle Choices You Can Make to Minimize Infertility
Pregnancy
stablecoins in healthcare
Stablecoins May Change the Future of Healthcare Billing
News
Personal Injury Healing Tips and Strategies
Personal Injury Healing Tips and Strategies
Health
Aa
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
Aa
Search
Have an existing account? Sign In
Follow US
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Health Works Collective > Policy & Law > Global Healthcare > What Is the Difference Between EMR and EMS?
Global HealthcareHealth careUncategorized

What Is the Difference Between EMR and EMS?

Sean Mallon
Last updated: 2021/05/04 at 2:52 PM
Sean Mallon
Share
8 Min Read
What Is the Difference Between EMR and EMS?
Shutterstock Licensed Photo - By Panchenko Vladimir | stock photo ID: 513678451
SHARE

The field of emergency medicine is both exciting and challenging. Working in fast-paced, high-stress environments that are often life or death isn’t a suitable or ideal career path for everyone. 

Contents
Emergency Medical Services (EMS)Emergency Medical Responders (EMR)Much More Than a Driving an Ambulance

However, for those who are interested, it can be incredibly rewarding and versatile.

If you have been researching the field, you likely would have come across EMR and EMS and wondered – what is the difference?  These terms may mistakenly be used interchangeably, but there are some distinct differences. The responsibilities, training, and job opportunities will differ in each of these emergency care programs. Let’s look at each in greater detail.

Emergency Medical Services (EMS)

Emergency Medical Services (EMS) is a category of medicine. These types of medical services are provided outside of a hospital prior to a patient being transferred to a medical facility. Emergency Medical Services consists of Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs), paramedics, ER medics, flight paramedics, firefighters, ocean rescue, and SWAT paramedics.

More Read

technology innovation in healthcare

5 Ways New Technology is Revolutionizing Health

Are your Health Workers Properly Protected?
Maximizing Outcomes Through Effective Patient Engagement Strategies
Dr. James Murtagh Tackles Pulmonary and Other Diseases
How to Get Prescriptions Online Reliably and Cost-Effectively

EMS positions require a great deal of skill and knowledge, including medical transport for emergency and non-emergency situations. As a part of the EMS system, EMTs “perform interventions with the basic equipment typically found on an ambulance,” according to the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians.

As the daily demand is much higher for those working in EMS, the educational and experiential requirements are also higher, and the position often requires formal certification and education. For example, the Emergency Medical Services Associates Degree at City College consists of 9 quarters. These quarters can be completed in 27 months and will include a vast array of critical first aid courses such as Emergency Medical Technician, First Responder, and Paramedic classes. Further, the program provides students with hands-on experience through labs, internships, and externships to better equip students for the real world.

EMS programs require formal accreditation. For example, the City College program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs.

Emergency Medical Responders (EMR)

Emergency Medical Responders (EMRs) provides emergency and lifesaving care to those who access the Emergency Medical System. This is a first responder that has a certain level of training, providing them with the necessary skills needed to intervene while waiting for EMS to arrive.

As a first responder, the EMR may be the first to arrive on the scene and start providing care immediately until Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) arrive. There are different positions that would be considered EMR, or individuals who have EMR training. Police officers are an example of EMR. If there was a car accident and police were the first to arrive, they would provide emergency care (as far as they are trained) until EMS arrives. Generally speaking, EMR does not have the same level of training as EMTs.

EMRs provide basic first aid and don’t often transport individuals to a hospital. Typically, a EMR is not considered part of the EMS system but an off-shoot of it. EMR will also assist EMS upon arrival, if it is needed. According to the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians, “Emergency Medical Responders perform basic interventions with minimal equipment.”

Many states do not require an EMR certificate; however, the training course is recognized through the National Registry of EMTs. These training courses are much shorter than EMS as they provide a more basic service. Generally, the program lasts one quarter or 60 hours of education. Typically, EMR courses are only provided in states where that level of medical emergency service is recognized.

Much More Than a Driving an Ambulance

A career once referred to as an ‘ambulance driver’ is much more involved, carrying out significantly advanced medical procedures and attending to severe emergencies. The 911 calls those in EMS can be called to range significantly. Although it depends on where they are working, they can be called to emergencies such as childbirth, abuse, trauma, psychiatric crisis, drug overdose, fire, car accidents, hazardous materials exposure, and other medical emergencies.

When people are in need and call 911 for medical attention – EMS is often the first to arrive. When people think of EMTs, they imagine traditional ambulances, but EMS can be dispatched in different settings as well. An example of this is flight paramedics. For car accidents that are inaccessible by ambulance, remote rescues, wilderness emergencies, or airplane crashes, an airborne medical service operation will need to respond. This comes with a unique set of challenges the flight medic must navigate to provide first aid and transport the individual to safety.

Medical emergencies happen on water too. Ocean rescue can work as a lifeguard or on large vessels such as cruise ships. In addition to knowing how to provide medical services, these individuals must be in peak physical condition and be able to swim in difficult waters. They will attend to boat crashes, drownings, and much more. 

Each of these roles requires different degrees of training and certification in addition to the EMS training. Ocean rescue, for example, often goes through 6 months of rigorous athletic training and testing in addition to their EMS training.

The job and state will determine the certification required. The National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians is a certification organization that certifies EMR, EMT, AEMT, and Paramedic. To obtain certification, you would have to write the appropriate exam to certify your knowledge and skill set. These exams are quite challenging and not something a person would be able to pass without the background education and experience.

EMS and EMR are different emergency medical responder levels. There are different levels within each state. For example:

  • California: Emergency Medical Technician (EMT), Advanced Emergency Medical Technician (AEMT), and Paramedic.
  • Florida: Emergency Medical Technician and Paramedic.
  • Maryland: Emergency Medical Responder (EMR), Emergency Medical Technician (EMT), Cardiac Rescue Technician-Intermediate (CRT-I), and Paramedic.

The greater your education and training, the more career opportunities you will have. That said, both EMR and EMS jobs are incredibly rewarding, and knowing the difference between the two is a great start to determine the best path for you.

TAGGED: EMRs

Sign Up For Daily Newsletter

Be keep up! Get the latest breaking news delivered straight to your inbox.
By signing up, you agree to our Terms of Use and acknowledge the data practices in our Privacy Policy. You may unsubscribe at any time.
Sean Mallon May 3, 2021
Share this Article
Facebook Twitter Copy Link Print
Share
Previous Article Chronic Foot Pain How to Deal With Chronic Foot Pain?
Next Article private jet benefits during pandemic Why Private Jets Are The Unlikely Heroes of The COVID-19 Pandemic

Stay Connected

1.5k Followers Like
4.5k Followers Follow
2.8k Followers Pin
136k Subscribers Subscribe

Latest News

investing in senior care
5 Reasons Why Investing in Senior Care Is a Wise Choice?
Senior Care January 30, 2023
prevent birth injuries
Distressing Birth Injuries and How They Can Be Prevented
Women Health January 30, 2023
reduce infertility risks
Lifestyle Choices You Can Make to Minimize Infertility
Pregnancy January 30, 2023
stablecoins in healthcare
Stablecoins May Change the Future of Healthcare Billing
News January 30, 2023

You Might also Like

at-home genetic testing method kits
Global Healthcare

Simplifying the Genetic Testing Process: How At-Home Kits are Changing the Game

January 25, 2023
benefits of going on a health retreat
Global HealthcareHealth

Why a Health Retreat Can Be the Best Medicine

January 12, 2023
saving money in healthcare
BusinessGlobal HealthcareHospital Administration

Best Money-Saving Tips for Health Managers

January 12, 2023
HR staff must deal with divisive views in healthcare
BusinessGlobal HealthcareHospital AdministrationPolicy & Law

HR Must Navigate Polarizing Views in Healthcare Workplaces

January 4, 2023
//

We influence million of users and is the most authentic source of information on healthcare business and technology news.

Quick Links

  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
Subscribe

Subscribe to our newsletter to get our newest articles instantly!

Follow US

© 2008-2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.

Removed from reading list

Undo
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Lost your password?