The History of EMS in Tennessee

In 1967, the Tennessee Medical Association (TMA)counsel, could assess civil penalties for violations
formed a Committee on Emergency Medicalof the law. In 1992, the law was amended to
Services. The following year, Governor Bufordrecognize licensure of emergency medical
Ellington convened an advisory committee totechnicians and paramedics; but the term
survey ambulance services and medical facilities.certification still applied to emergency medical first
This survey formed the basis of a state plan forresponders.
an EMS program.Following a national trend during the 1980s,
The EMS Act of 1972 created the EMS Division inemphasis was placed on improving trauma care,
the Department of Public Health, and created awith specially staffed medical facilities designated
State EMS Advisory Council of thirteen membersas trauma centers. The Elvis Presley Memorial
to advise the Division on program developmentTrauma Center in Memphis was established in
and regulation. The first order of business was to1983 and designated as a Level 1 Tennessee
implement EMT training throughout the state. TheTrauma Center in 1985. The process of
first graduates of an 81-hour training programdesignating statewide Trauma Centers throughout
were state certified as emergency medicalthe state was accomplished in 1988 through
technicians as of May 1, 1972, and by the fall ofregulations adopted in 1985 and 1987.
1972, EMS consultants had established trainingIn 1995, the EMS Division established the
programs across the state. The EMS Act of 1973Tennessee Emergency Medical Services for
authorized advanced life support training inChildren Program, through a $700,000 federal
Tennessee utilizing the term EMT-Advanced togrant under a contact with Vanderbilt University
define a paramedic. In 1980, the position of StateChildrens Hospital. Standards for emergency
EMS Training Coordinator was officially designated.medical facilities and emergency medical services
The EMS Act of 1983 provided for the transitionfor children were required by legislation enacted in
of the EMS Advisory Council into a State EMS1998.
Board, the first regulatory board for emergencyEarly defibrillation programs for the public were
medical services programs in the United States.promoted by legislation in 1998 and 1999.
The EMS Board was empowered to promulgateEmergency medical first responders were
rules, conduct hearings, discipline emergencyauthorized to use automated external defibrillators
medical services and personnel, and to continue toin 1994, and by 1997, all ambulances responding
oversee program development. The 1983 Actthe scene of an emergency were required to be
formally used the term EMT-Paramedic in theequipped with a defibrillator.
State law. The Commissioner of Health, throughBased on information supplied by Richard Land of
the EMS Division and the departments legalthe Tennessee EMS Division.