How EMSA Works

EMSA is a public trust of the Tulsa and Oklahoma City governments. It is the Authority’s duty to ensure that the cities we serve receive the highest quality of emergency medical service at the best possible price.

There are several entities that work together in the EMSA system, including:

The Authority

EMSA, the Authority, is contractually obligated and fully committed to meeting response time standards and other standards of care set by the medical director. EMSA manages the operations and administration of the EMSA system in both the Eastern Division (Tulsa Area) and Western Division (Oklahoma City Area). The Authority also owns ambulances and other capital equipment used to provide service. EMSA also manages agreements, maintains patient records, bills and collects, purchases goods and services and manages the EMSAcare ambulance subscription program and makes policy recommendations.

Employees of the Authority report to and follow the direction of the 11-member EMSA Board of Trustees. Eight of the 11 trustees are appointed by the mayors of Tulsa and Oklahoma City.

City Governments

In addition to appointing individuals to serve on the EMSA Board of Trustees, the Cities must approve any changes to EMSA Trust Agreement, which governs EMSA operations.

The Medical Director

An independent Medical Director provides medical oversight of the EMSA system and first responders in the cities EMSA serves (firefighters assisting in patient assessment and stabilization). The Medical Director conducts routine audits and testing of all medics practicing in the system, writes seamless protocols to ensure the continuity of care between first responders and transport medics, researches new treatment modalities and evaluates complaints.

The Medical Director reports to the Medical Control Board, an organization composed of 11 community physicians (10 of whom work in metropolitan hospital emergency departments) who serve voluntarily.