Series Descriptions
ID R148.1, Box 1-10, Folders 1-18
Series 1
Subject Files
1977-1991
Physical Description: 371 file folders
Arrangement
Arranged alphabetically by subject.
Scope and Content Note
Subject Files contain materials, such as brochures, articles, newsletters, reports, correspondence, maps, and surveys for
a range of emergency medical topics related to disaster response, equipment analysis and incorporation, procedural research
reports and methodological proposals, communication coordination, drug analyses, disease research, and prevention materials.
Many subjects contain surveys from local EMS agencies as EMSA developed over time. Topics of interest to the researcher include
AIDS training program materials, and prevention information, data and debates concerning defibrillators, Hazmat training and
protocol development, Mobile Intensive Care Nursing requirements and regulations, patient transfer protocols, carbon monoxide
emission in ambulances, poison control evaluations, procedures and call data, and drug trials.
ID R148.2, Box 10-13, Folders 19-5
Series 2
County Files
1975-1985
Physical Description: 95 file folders
Arrangement
Arranged alphabetically by county.
Scope and Content Note
County Files contain correspondence, survey materials, minutes, and annual reports describing efforts to develop and coordinate
local and regional planning with the EMSA. Many records relate to the clarifying of standards or regulations with the EMSA
or are responses to questionnaires/surveys needed for statewide comprehensive policies and standards. The researcher will
find materials relating to the Los Angeles County paramedic program and the Los Angeles Skills Manual from the Paramedic Training
Institute. Of additional note are records for Monterey County, which contain correspondence discussing EMT standards and protocols
for military personnel, the illegal selling of accident victims' names, and interfacility transfer responsibilities.
ID R148.3, Box 13, Folders 6-49
Series 3
State Files
1977-1989
Physical Description: 44 file folders
Arrangement
Arranged alphabetically by state.
Scope and Content Note
State Files contain reports, articles, newsletters, and correspondence from other states and their EMS systems. Correspondence
between the California EMSA and other state EMS agencies often reflect the desire to utilize the best aspects of multiple
programs in the hopes of creating and developing an increasingly efficient EMS system. Annual reports, specific studies,
and EMS newsletters from outside California, such as Alaska's 1981 Guide for Planning the EMS System or Massachusetts's guidelines
for life-support and ambulances, give researchers a glimpse into the development of multiple variants of EMS systems nationwide
and provide insight into the data used in EMSA's efforts to improve California's EMS programs.
ID R148.4, Box 14, Folders 1-17
Series 4
Federal Files
1976-1991
Physical Description: 17 file folders
Arrangement
Arranged alphabetically by agency or department.
Scope and Content Note
Federal Files contain materials involving Federal agencies or organizations. These include correspondence, reports, guidelines,
or other information that applied to the operation of the California EMSA. Of potential use to the researcher are the National
Highway Traffic Safety Administration report and recommendations for injury control, the Department of Transportation Traffic
and Safety Training Manual and reports, and the Federal Communications Commission requests and reports on the future telecommunication
requirements for national safety services.
ID R148.5, Box 14-15, Folders 18-25
Series 5
Emergency Medical Services Files
1974-1991
Physical Description: 50 file folders
Arrangement
Arranged alphabetically by subject.
Scope and Content Note
The EMS Files contain materials that reflect the development and operation of local EMS agencies and coordination with EMSA
itself. The researcher will find reports, analyses, articles, regional EMS agency files, survey responses, guidelines for
pilot plans, and correspondence that discuss local policies and responsibilities towards developing standardized EMSA guidelines
and procedures, responses to surveys, guidelines for pilot plans, and protocols and training materials for prehospital personnel.
The researcher will find the regional EMS administrators council meeting materials, EMS for Children grant development documents
and pilot study statistical data, and EMS Communications Advisory Committee records in this series.
ID R148.6, Box 15-16, Folders 26-24
Series 6
Commission on EMS Files
1980-1991
Physical Description: 31 file folders
Arrangement
Arranged alphabetically by subject.
Scope and Content Note
The Commission on Emergency Medical Services was the only advisory group to the Emergency Medical Services Authority in California.
The Commission on EMS Files contain correspondence and agenda/meeting packets outlining the objectives of each meeting, Commission
analyses of EMS procedures and standards, reports and studies, and the member composition of some of the commissions. Some
of the topics discussed include refresher courses for emergency personnel and proposed curriculum/guidelines, certification
and retention of EMS personnel, rural EMS studies, dispatch concerns, and coordination of local regulations with EMSA, quality
assurance reports, plan development guides, and reports on local responsibilities and policies.
ID R148.7, Box 16-17, Folders 25-28
Series 7
California State Department Files
1981-1991
Physical Description: 44 file folders
Arrangement
Arranged alphabetically by agency or department.
Scope and Content Note
These files contain correspondence and reports between EMSA and various California state departments and agencies. Communication
between the various entities reflect jurisdictional interaction as it related to matters concerning health/medical concerns,
state budgetary matters, or coordinating procedural policies between the various agencies themselves and the overarching relationship
between EMSA and state government. An example of this is the communication between the State Controller's Office and EMSA
concerning the allocation of block grants for training courses. Of note are the multiple files on the Health and Welfare
Agency and the correspondence with EMSA. Records describing the effects of employment freezing and Governor Deukmejian's
initiative to remove ineffective and unneeded commissions and regulations include reports on overall policy directions of
EMSA, the impact of reduced employment, two-year budget reports, status reports, and accomplishment reports of the agency.
These materials highlight the interaction of EMSA with the Health and Welfare Agency and the interaction of both agencies
with the executive branch of California government. Of additional interest is the California Master Plan to Reduce Drug and
Alcohol Abuse: Year 2 (January 1990). This plan proposed guidelines and procedures to discourage and curtail alcohol and
drug abuse in California in conjunction with national initiatives.
ID R148.8, Box 17-19, Folders 29-28
Series 8
Associations and Organizations Files
1980-1991
Physical Description: 63 file folders
Arrangement
Arranged alphabetically by association or organization.
Scope and Content Note
The Association and Organization Files contain correspondence and reports as well as exchanges between various California
and national entities and EMSA relating to matters under EMSA jurisdiction, especially regulatory concerns. Also included
are correspondence and report materials from the Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training discussing testing standards,
as well as initial and refresher courses in first aid and CPR for peace officers. Also, the researcher will find multiple
folders from the National Association of State Emergency Medical Services Directors. This group contains one EMS director
from each state, the District of Columbia, and U.S. territories. The NASEMSD was created in 1980 to foster communication
between the state directors themselves and the states and the Federal government. It also represents the interests and specific
needs of state programs and directors. These files contain correspondence, surveys, questionnaires, bylaws, minutes, analyses,
and reports which provide insight into the projected goals of EMS systems nationwide and the efforts to create efficient EMS
standards and procedures.
ID R148.9, Box 19-21, Folders 29-12
Series 9
Regulations and Guidelines Files
1978-1991
Physical Description: 67 file folders
Arrangement
Arranged alphabetically by subject.
Scope and Content Note
The Regulations and Guidelines Files contain materials relating to the creation of regulations for the EMS system. Of note
are records related to the development of air ambulance regulations, including correspondence discussing aircraft designations,
dispatch authority, levels of crew and aircraft certification, and drafts of guidelines and rules. Additionally, the researcher
will find materials related to the development of regulations for the disciplinary certification review process after the
Attorney General stated that the EMSA preliminary guidelines directing the disciplinary process needed to be in regulation
form. Many files contain pre-public comment and renotice drafts, analyses, and correspondence, giving the researcher the
ability to trace the commentary and opinions that contribute to the crafting of EMSA policies, regulations, and standards.