What is the Difference between EMS and EMT in Healthcare?
The difference between EMS and EMT in healthcare is that EMS is an acronym for Emergency Medical Services, while EMT is an acronym for an Emergency Medical Technician – an individual who most often works within an EMS team as a first responder.
While the difference between EMS and EMT in healthcare appears straightforward, it is important to note there are several different types of Emergency Medical Services and Emergency Medical Technicians. This is important because, in the context of HIPAA compliance, not all Emergency Medical Services qualify as HIPAA covered entities.
The Different Types of Emergency Medical Services
The most common types of Emergency Medical Services in the United States are services attached to fire departments. These can be supported by municipal “third service” ambulance services in areas with combined fire, police, and EMS departments, or by charity/not-for-profit ambulance services which are predominantly staffed by volunteers.
Combined fire, police, and EMS departments can also be found in smaller towns and cities – where there may be insufficient budget or demand to support three independent services – and in large airports, universities, and manufacturing or chemical plants. Some federal government agencies also operate EMS departments – such as the U.S. Forest Service.
The remaining types of Emergency Medical Services are mostly private “treatment and transport” services and hospital-based services that may be provided as part of an integrated healthcare service or as a unit within an Organized Health Care Arrangement. These services can also support the other types of Emergency Medical Services in emergency situations.
What Makes an EMS a HIPAA Covered Entity?
An EMS qualifies as a HIPAA covered entity if it conducts – or subcontracts – electronic healthcare transactions for which the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has adopted standards in Part 162 of the HIPAA Administrative Simplification Regulations. Eligible healthcare transactions include fee-for-service claims to health plans and Medicare.
An Emergency Medical Services provider might also be required to comply with HIPAA if it provides services for or on behalf of a HIPAA covered entity as a business associate. In such circumstances, the EMS provider must comply with all applicable HIPAA Privacy and Security Rule standards as well as any state privacy regulations that apply to its services.
The HIPAA status of an EMS provider can have an impact on what privacy regulations EMTs have to comply with. EMS providers that qualify as a HIPAA covered entity must provide HIPAA training on all applicable HIPAA policies and procedures, but must also sanction workforce members for any violation of HIPAA Privacy Rule standards – even those not covered in HIPAA training.
The Different Types of Emergency Medical Technicians
In the introduction, it was explained that the difference between EMS and EMT in healthcare is that an EMT is an Emergency Medical Technician who is trained to assist people in distress and who most often works within an EMS team as a first responder. While this description is accurate, it is sometimes the case different levels of EMT are assumed to be the same.
Emergency Medical Responder (EMR)
EMRs provide immediate lifesaving care to critical patients who access Emergency Access Services (i.e., by calling 9-1-1). EMRs have the knowledge and skills necessary to provide lifesaving interventions while waiting for additional EMS resources to arrive.
Emergency Medical Technician (EMT)
EMTs provide out of hospital emergency medical care for critical and emergency patients. EMTs have the basic knowledge and skills necessary to stabilize and safely transport patients in non-emergency, routine medical, and emergency situations.
Advanced Emergency Medical Technician (AEMT)
AEMTs provide limited advanced emergency medical care and transportation for critical and emergency patients. AEMTs possess the knowledge and skills necessary to perform interventions with the advanced equipment typically found on an ambulance.
Paramedic
Paramedics are fully qualified healthcare professionals whose primary focus is to provide advanced emergency medical care for critical and emergency patients. Paramedics are trained to possess the complex knowledge and skills necessary to provide patient care and transportation in all circumstances.
Other Types of EMTs
The four types of Emergency Medical Technicians listed above are the primary types, but they are not the only one. All types of Emergency Medical Technicians can be supported by Emergency Medical Volunteers (EMVs), Local Emergency Medical Advisors (LEMAs), and – when working for the National Park Service or U.S. Forest Service – Park Medics.
Where to Find Out More about the Difference between EMS and EMT in Healthcare
Organizations and individuals looking for more information on the difference between EMS and EMT in healthcare can visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s dedicated EMS website and the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians website https://www.nremt.org/.
