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Inventory of the California Emergency Medical Services Authority Records
R148  
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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.