Health and Wellness

EMS in the United States

Fragmented Past, Future of Opportunity Donnie Woodyard, Jr

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Length16h 52m

About this audiobook

"EMS in the United States: Fragmented Past, Future of Opportunity" is the first comprehensive Desk Reference for aspiring EMS leaders, managers, and government officials. Written from the perspective and experience of a state and national EMS leader, the book provides an exploration into the evolution, current state, and future of Emergency Medical Services (EMS) in the United States. From the humble origins of EMS to the impact of influential visionaries, Hollywood, and determined community volunteers, this book provides a deep dive into the rich, often overlooked history. As a resource for emerging EMS leaders, the book guides the reader through state regulation and administration, providing an introduction to interstate compacts, investigations, enforcement, and public protection. In its final sections, the book outlines leadership lessons, stakeholder engagement, and change management in the EMS environment.

Audiobook details

GenreHealth and Wellness

Length16 hrs 52 mins

Narrated bySelect Your Own

FormateBook with Audio

Publish dateApr 11, 2026

LanguageEnglish

1Foreword

2320. Recruitment & Retention

2Acknowledgements

2421. EMS Practitioner Mental Health: Protecting Our Own

3Preface

2522. A Professional Code of Conduct

41. The Origins of EMS in the United States

2623. An Introduction to Interstate Compacts

52. EMS Visionaries

2724. The EMS Compact

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63. Hollywood’s Role in Designing the U.S. EMS System

2825. State Sovereignty

74. A Guiding Star (of Life)

2926. State EMS Offices

85. Fractures & Fragmentation

3027. Investigations & Enforcement

96. Volunteerism: The Ultimate EMS Subsidy

3128. Public Protection & Background Checks

107. EMS Data: The Most Powerful Healthcare Dataset

3229. Visionary Leadership

118. National EMS Influencers

3330. Stakeholder Engagement

129. EMS Week

3431. Leading Change Management

1310. EMS Service Delivery Models

3532. Leadership Lessons

1411. Disparities in Access to EMS

3633. Health Equity, Social Determinants of Health &amp; EMS

1512. Physician Medical Direction

3734. Aging Populations & EMS Systems

1613. EMS System Finance

3835. Resilience, Reliability, And Sustainability

1714. Economics of Providing EMS

3936. Telehealth: The New Frontier

1815. Fundamentals of Insurance & Billing

4037. We Are EMS

1916. Essential Service Designation

41Appendix

2017. Certification, Licensure, & Credentialing

42Companion Website

2118. National EMS Certification

43About the Author

2219. Paramedic Accreditation

About the author

Donnie Woodyard, Jr

DONNIE WOODYARD JR., has spent three decades in Emergency Medical Services. Starting as a volunteer EMT in Virginia and training as a paramedic in Ohio, Donnie has since served as an EMS Chief, Paramedic Instructor, the State EMS Director in two states, Chief Operating Officer of the National Registry of EMTs, Chair of the Interstate Commission for EMS Personnel Practice, and Executive Director of the United States EMS Compact. Internationally, he led the establishment of the modern EMS system in Sri Lanka and has contributed to EMS system development across Asia. View all by Donnie Woodyard, Jr