EMS Community Levels-of-Care

Community Type

Population

EMS

General Access

Level 1

 

 

 

Isolated Village

Usually 50 - 1,000 in

immediate community

Community clinic with a CHA

or EMT

Limited air or marine highway

access to a Level III or higher

community; maintained road

access exceeds 60 miles

Highway Village

Usually 50 - 1,000 in

immediate community

Community clinic with a CHA

or EMT

Limited air or marine highway

access to a Level III or higher

community; year-round, 60

minute or less road access

LEVEL 2

 

 

 

Isolated Sub-Regional

Community

Usually 500 - 3,000 + in

immediate community

Community clinic with PA,

NP, or physician; health care

services provided by public or private sector

Daily marine highway or air

access to closest Level III or

higher community; air service

to Level I communities in area

Highway Sub-Regional

Community

Usually 500 - 3,000 + in

immediate community

Community clinic with a PA,

NP, or physician; health care

services provided by public or private sector

Daily marine highway or air

access to closest Level III or

higher community; year-round 60 minute or less road access

LEVEL III

 

 

 

Large Town or

Regional Center

Usually 2,000 - 10,000 + in

immediate community,

providing services to a

regional population

Community hospital and

physicians; health care service agencies include both public and private

Daily airline service to Level

III, IV & V communities; air

service to Level I & II

communities in area; road or

marine highway access all

year

LEVEL IV

 

 

 

Small City

Usually 10,000 - 100,000 in

immediate community,

providing services to a larger

regional population

Hospitals with a 24 hour

staffed ED and full continuum

of care; multiple providers of

health care and other services

including both public and

private programs

Daily airline service to Level

II, III, IV & V communities;

road or marine highway access all year

LEVEL V

 

 

 

Urban Center

Usually 100,000 + in

immediate community,

providing services to a

statewide population

Some specialized medical and

rehabilitation services for low

incidence problems

Daily airline service to Level

II, III, IV & V communities;

road or marine highway access all year

OTHER AREAS

 

 

 

Very Small Communities

25 - 150 in immediate

community

Designated area for equipment and patient care with a CHA, ETT or EMT

Limited road, air or marine

highway access to a Level III

or higher community

Major Highways

Variable

Level II ambulance service

every 100 miles & first

responder service every 50

miles

Year-round, 60 minute or less

ground transportation or air

access to a Level III or higher

community

Marine Highways

Variable

Safety officer with ETT or

EMT t raining

Helicopter or fixed wing

access

At-Risk Sites

 

 

 

Schools

Variable

Safety coordinator & at least

two ETTs

Air, marine & ground

transportation access

High-Risk Work Sites:

Remote

Variable

ETT or EMT for every 25

employees

More than one hour from a

medical service

High-Risk Work Sites: Nearby

Variable

ETT or EMT for every 50

employees

One hour or less from a

medical service