Boston Emergency Medical Services

Boston Emergency Medical Services (Boston EMS) provides basic life support (BLS) and advanced life support (ALS) ambulance units throughout the neighborhoods in the city of Boston, Massachusetts, USA. Boston EMS is a public safety agency responding to 911 calls alone or with the Boston Police and/or Boston Fire Departments dependent upon the nature of an incident. The agency employs over 400 emergency medical technicians (EMT) and paramedics.

Boston EMS is a bureau of the City of Boston Public Health Commission. Boston EMS hires Massachusetts State certified EMTs by competitive examination and upon completion of the Boston EMS Recruit Academy, and then promotes paramedics from within the department after completing an intense internship. The department is managed by a uniformed command staff consisting of a Chief of Department, a Superintendent-in-Chief, three Superintendents, and twelve Deputy Superintendents.

There are sixteen ambulance stations located throughout the city. Field operations are overseen by a Shift Commander and assisted by 2 Lieutenants (Field Supervisors) operating in 2 Divisions. A third Lieutenant and field Captains are deployed as needed and during major citywide events. All department vehicles are equipped with Global Positioning (GPS) and Mobile Data Terminals (MDT). An EMT is assigned to the Massachusetts State Police Harbor Unit from mid spring though late fall.

Boston EMS maintains a fully staffed Special Operations Unit which includes a heavy duty rescue truck, two medium duty rescue trucks, a state-of-the-art MCI bus, support trailers, ATVs and a bike team for special events and major incidents. In addition, several other specialized units provide logistical/technical support for Boston EMS operations, including a modern Dispatch Operations Center (staffed by EMTs) located in Boston Police Headquarters, the Research, Training, and Quality Improvement Division (RTQI), a Community Initiatives Office and Administration & Finance office. The Materials Management Unit provides 24-hour equipment/supply services and the Fleet Services Unit maintain an inventory of approximately 120 department vehicles. There are also Facilities and Communications Engineering sections.

Boston EMS has a full-time two-person Community Assistance Team, with the call sign, Squad 80, that operates during the day and evening shifts. Squad 80 responds to call types with a low frequency of transport, freeing up ambulances. Squad 80 also seeks to connect individuals to city services, including shelters and recovery programs. Boston EMS also has a Mobile Integrated Healthcare unit, with the call sign Squad 90, that operates during the day and evening shifts. Squad 90 is staffed by a Boston EMS EMT, along with a Behavioral Health Clinician, who respond to calls citywide, including calls involving patients having a mental health crisis.

Boston EMS is a unionized department with EMTs and Paramedics represented by the Boston Police Patrolmen's Association, EMS Division; Support Services staff represented by the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME); Command Staff represented by SENA, and civilian office/clerical staff represented by SEIU.

The Boston EMS ambulance fleet consists of Braun ambulances mounted on Ford F-450 Super Duty chassis.