California Emergency Medical Services Authority Records, 1975-1991

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Summary

Creators:
California Emergency Medical Services Authority
Abstract:
The California Emergency Medical Services Authority, EMSA, is one of 13 departments within the California Health and Human Services Agency and administers the statewide system of coordinated emergency medical care, injury prevention, and disaster medical response. The records of the California Emergency Medical Services Authority include 20.5 cubic feet of textual records from 1975 to 1991, concerning the establishment and development of the EMSA and the development of procedures and guidelines for the California EMS system.
Extent:
20.5 cubic feet of textual records
Language:
Languages represented in the collection: English

Background

Scope and content:

The records of the California Emergency Medical Services Authority include 20.5 cubic feet of textual records from 1975 to 1991 and concerning the establishment and development of the EMSA and the development of procedures and guidelines for the California EMS system. The collection is divided into the following series of records: Subject files, California County Files, State Files, Federal Files, Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Files, Commission on EMS Files, California State Department Files, Association and Organization Files, and Regulations and Guidelines Files.

The majority of the records are the subject files and addresses a variety of topics including: injury prevention, poison control, disaster coordination planning and guidelines, testing standards and procedures for prehospital personnel, and analyses of various emergency equipment. Federal Files contain materials exchanged between federal departments and the EMSA. State and County Files compromise materials and correspondence from California counties and departments as they relate to the operation of the EMSA. Local concerns with guidelines, procedures, and requirements are found in this series, as are departmental correspondence involving issues such as fiscal solvency and legal reciprocity. EMS Files and Commission on EMS Files contain materials highlighting procedural development, equipment procurement and testing, safety issues, the crafting of training curriculum and standards, analyses, and the collection of survey data. Association and Organizational Files contain correspondence and information from local and national entities, noting regulatory and curriculum development, interaction between EMSA and other agencies of the California government. The Regulations and Guidelines Files contain materials outlining the development of specific EMSA rules and regulations. The researcher will often find surveys, draft versions of regulations and reports, and correspondence illustrating the efforts of EMSA to develop universal guidelines, standards, and requirements for the California EMS system. This collection could be invaluable for examining the creation of and development of California's emergency response system and the ongoing efforts to craft effective practices, standards and regulations regarding prehospital procedures, personnel, and disaster response efforts in California.

Biographical / historical:

The California Emergency Medical Services Authority, EMSA, is one of 13 departments within the California Health and Human Services Agency and administers the statewide system of coordinated emergency medical care, injury prevention, and disaster medical response. Prior to 1980, no organization like this one existed and previous efforts were handled by various state and local agencies. These agencies were divided on many issues but agreed that a unified approach towards emergency and disaster services was needed. SB 215, (Chapter 1260, Statutes of 1980), created the Emergency Medical Services System and Prehospital Emergency Care Act of 1980, which authorized the designation of local Emergency Medical Services agencies and systems and created the Emergency Medical Services Authority. The EMSA was to establish statewide standards for prehospital emergency medical care personnel and the California Emergency Medical Services system. EMSA promotes disaster medical preparedness throughout California and, when required, manages the state's medical response to major disasters. It provides statewide coordination and leadership for planning, development, and implementation of the 32 local EMS systems that provide medical services for California's 58 counties. The EMSA also establishes the standards, training, and scope of practice for various levels of prehospital EMS personnel.

Acquisition information:
The California State Archives acquired the California Emergency Medical Services Authority Records according to state law.
Physical location:
California State Archives
Rules or conventions:
Finding aid prepared using Describing Archives: a Content Standard

Access and use

Location of this collection:
1020 "O" Street
Sacramento, CA 95814, US
Contact:
(916) 653-2246
reference@sos.ca.gov
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