MUSKOGEE COUNTY EMS

Muskogee County EMS offers a variety of options taylored to meet our patients’ conditions and specific medical needs:

Non-Emergency Medical Transportation

Some of our patients require ambulance transportation for medically necessary reasons but on a non-emergency basis . Examples include pre-scheduled transfers between hospitals, other healthcare or treatment facilities, or between patient’s homes and hospitals.

Demand for non-emergency medical transportation ambulance services has increased with the growing number of specialized treatment and out-patient facilities, nursing homes and home health care agencies.

Basic Life Support

Basic Life Support (BLS) ambulances provide transport to patients who do not require extra support or cardiac monitoring.  A BLS ambulance is staffed by two medics with training in basic emergency medical care such as basic airway management, use of an automated external defibrillator (AED) and basic drug administration.  Examples of BLS transports include:

• Hospital discharges
• Psychiatric discharges
• Basic Life support emergencies
• Interfacility transfers
• Transport to dialysis
• Doctor’s offices

Advanced Life Support

• Advanced Life Support (ALS) ambulances transport patients who need a higher level of care during transport above those services provided by a BLS ambulance. The unit is staffed by an Advanced Emergency Medical Technician (AEMT) or Paramedic who is qualified to render advanced life support to patients such as advanced airway management, drug administration and cardiac monitoring. Patients who typically require ALS transport include:

• Medical/surgical patients with a continuous IV
• Patients on a cardiac monitor
• Patients with potential airway compromise
• Any patient deemed to have a potential complication during transport when reported by the sending facility
• Life threatening medical emergencies (For example: respiratory distress, stroke, seizure, chest pains)

Specialty Care Transport

Specialty Care Transport (SCT) is the interfacility transportation of a critically injured or ill patient by ambulance, including providing medically necessary supplies and services at an advanced level.  SCT is necessary when a patient’s condition requires ongoing care. Patients who may require SCT include:

• Ventilator transports
• Expanded scope drug administration via IV pump