The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is fortunate to provide a variety of levels for EMS.
Quick Response Service (QRS)
A QRS is a non-transporting level of EMS. An EMS agency operating a QRS uses EMS providers to respond to calls for EMS and provide EMS to patients before an ambulance arrives. A QRS is not required to have a vehicle when responding to a call. The minimum staffing for a QRS is one EMS provider.
Basic Life Support Ambulance Service (BLS Ambulance)
A BLS Ambulance can transport patients. An EMS agency operating a BLS Ambulance employs one or more BLS ambulances staffed by an ambulance crew capable of providing medical assessment, observation, triage, monitoring, treatment, and transportation of patients who require EMS at or below the skill level of an EMT. The minimum staffing for a BLS ambulance crew when responding to a call to provide EMS and transporting a patient is an EMS provider at or above the EMR level, a second EMS provider at or above the EMT level, and an EMSVO. However, a two-person ambulance crew is permitted if the EMSVO is also one of the EMS providers and an EMS provider above the EMR level is available to attend to the patient during patient transport.
Basic Life Support Squad Service (BLS Squad)
A BLS Squad is a non-transporting level of EMS. An EMS agency operating a BLS Squad transports EMS providers, along with basic EMS equipment and supplies, to rendezvous with an ambulance crew or to respond prior to the arrival of an ambulance, to provide EMS at or below the AEMT level of care. A BLS squad vehicle may not transport patients. The minimum staffing for a BLS squad vehicle crew when responding to a call to provide EMS is an EMS provider at or above the EMT level and an EMSVO. However, only one person is required if the EMSVO is also the EMS provider.
Intermediate Advanced Life Support Ambulance Service (IALS Ambulance)
An IALS Ambulance can transport patients. An EMS agency operating an IALS Ambulance operates one or more IALS ambulances staffed by an ambulance crew capable of providing medical assessment, observation, triage, monitoring, treatment, and transportation of patients who require EMS at the AEMT level. The minimum staffing for an IALS ambulance crew when responding to a call to provide EMS to a patient who requires EMS at the skill level of an AEMT is an EMS provider at or above the AEMT level, a second EMS provider at or above the EMR level, and an EMSVO. However, a two-person ambulance crew is permitted if the EMSVO is also one of the EMS providers and an EMS provider at or above the AEMT level is available to attend to the patient during patient transport.
Intermediate Advanced Life Support Squad Service (IALS Squad)
An IALS Squad is a non-transporting level of EMS. An EMS agency operating an IALS Squad transports EMS providers at the AEMT level, along with EMS equipment and supplies, to rendezvous with an ambulance crew or to respond prior to the arrival of an ambulance, to provide medical assessment, monitoring, treatment, and observation of a patient who requires advanced EMS. An IALS squad vehicle may not transport patients. The minimum staffing for an IALS squad vehicle crew when responding to a call to provide EMS is an EMS provider at or above the AEMT level and an EMSVO. However, only one person is required if the EMSVO is also the EMS provider.
Advanced Life Support Ambulance Service (ALS Ambulance)
An ALS Ambulance can transport patients. An EMS agency operating an ALS Ambulance operates one or more ALS ambulances staffed by an ambulance crew capable of providing medical assessment, observation, triage, monitoring, treatment, and transportation of patients who require EMS at a skill level above the AEMT. The minimum staffing for an ALS ambulance crew when responding to a call to provide EMS to a patient who requires EMS at the skill level above an AEMT is an EMS provider at or above the EMT level, a second EMS provider above the AEMT level, and an EMSVO. However, a two-person ambulance crew is permitted if the EMSVO is also one of the EMS providers and an EMS provider above the AEMT level is available to attend to the patient during patient transport.
Advanced Life Support Squad Service (ALS Squad)
An ALS Squad is a non-transporting level of EMS. An EMS agency operating an ALS Squad transports EMS providers above the AEMT level, along with EMS equipment and supplies, to rendezvous with an ambulance crew or to respond prior to the arrival of an ambulance, to provide medical assessment, monitoring, treatment, and observation of a patient who requires EMS at or above the skill level of an AEMT. An ALS squad vehicle may not transport patients. The minimum staffing for an ALS squad vehicle crew when responding to a call to provide EMS is an EMS provider above the AEMT level and an EMSVO. However, only one person is required if the EMSVO is also the EMS provider.
Critical Care Transport Ambulance Service (CCT)
A critical care transport ambulance service (CCT) can transport patients. An EMS agency operating a CCT operates a critical care transport ambulance service employs one or more ALS ambulances staffed by a crew capable of providing medical assessment, observation, triage, monitoring, treatment, and transportation of patients who require EMS at the skill level needed to attend to and transport critically ill or injured patients between receiving facilities. The minimum staffing for a CCT crew when responding to a call to provide critical care transport is an EMSVO and two EMS providers above the AEMT level, with at least on of the EMS providers being a Paramedic, PHRN, PHPE, or PHP who has successfully completed a critical care transport educational program approved by the Department.
Air Ambulance Service
An air ambulance service can transport patients. An EMS agency operating an air ambulance service operates an air ambulance service employs one or more air ambulances staffed by a crew capable of providing medical assessment, observation, triage, monitoring, treatment, and transportation of patients who require EMS. An air ambulance should be employed when time to administer definitive care to a patient is of the essence and transportation by air ambulance to a receiving facility able to provide the care is faster than transportation by ground ambulance, or when a patient requires EMS provided by specialized equipment or providers not available on a ground ambulance and the air ambulance can provide this faster than the patient would receive such care at a receiving facility if transported by ground ambulance. The minimum staffing for an air ambulance crew when responding to a call to transport a patient by air ambulance is a pilot and two EMS providers above the AEMT level, with at least one of the EMS providers being a Paramedic, PHRN, PHPE, or PHP who has successfully completed an air ambulance transport educational program approved by the Department.
