If you are experiencing a medical emergency, please call 911 or visit an emergency room. For more information about EMS, call 336-641-7565.
About Guilford County EMS
Guilford County EMS is the sole paramedic level provider of pre-hospital services to the entire county population. County paramedic transport units are easily recognizable by their distinctive yellow and white paint scheme. Support units are generally painted white with yellow striping to identify their role on the scene of an emergency support units include “Medic” units that respond to emergencies to assess and treat patients at the paramedic level until transport units arrive. Disaster and rehabilitation units are also considered support units. Guilford County EMS employs approximately 160 full-time and 50 part-time personnel.
A typical day at EMS begins with crew change. Off-going crews exchange equipment and important information with on-coming personnel. On-duty personnel acquire all the necessary equipment to be prepared to receive calls, respond to calls, assess, treat and transport patients. As soon as possible, the on-duty crews check all equipment assigned to their unit. This includes a verification that the vehicle is ready for a safe response to calls and is equipped to handle any medical emergency the crew may encounter. Other general duties include housekeeping at the base of operations, training and equipment maintenance or cleaning. Most EMS personnel work a fixed 12-hour schedule however, EMS is adding alternatives such as a 10-hour and 14-hour basis to meet the resident needs. Crews respond to anywhere from two (2) calls per shift in rural areas, to as many as 15 calls per shift in urban areas. It is not unusual for crews to work the entire shift without the convenience of meal or personal breaks. On an average day, Guilford County EMS fields variable 10-18 transport units, five (5) to six (6) quick response units and one (1) supervisor’s unit.
Guilford County EMS System is comprised of:
Guilford Metro 911
Guilford Metro 911 is the first point of contact for most citizens requesting emergency medical assistance. This unique partnership between Guilford County and the city of Greensboro is responsible for answering 911 calls from citizens located inside Greensboro and in the remaining portion of Guilford County not inside the corporate limits of the city of High Point. Guilford Metro 911 uses 911-Enhanced technology and is Phase II compliant for wireless emergency call location determination. The National Academy of Emergency Dispatch certifies all personnel at Guilford Metro 911 who answer emergency medical calls as Emergency Medical Dispatchers (EMDs). The EMDs are trained to gather information related to a call to ensure the right resources are sent to the right location, the right way, at the right time. Additionally, the EMDs provide pre-arrival and post-dispatch instructions to callers before help arrives. To find out more about Guilford Metro 911, visit their website located in the links section.
The other critical service provided by Guilford Metro 911 involves dispatching, monitoring and coordinating EMS resources by Mobile Computer Terminal and radio. EMDs must be knowledgeable of the geography of the county and be able to make decisions regarding unit assignments and district standbys to fill empty response zones. Additionally, the EMDs must coordinate out of county EMS requests to speak with local hospitals and request medical helicopter services when appropriate.
First Responders
Since the 1970s, Guilford County has embraced the concept of an EMS System by using first response agencies to enhance the level of service provided to people in need. First response agencies are dispatched to respond with EMS resources to potentially life-threatening calls. Traditional first response agencies include the city of Greensboro Fire Department, the city of High Point Fire Department, Guilford County Fire Departments and Piedmont Triad Ambulance and Rescue. Collectively, these first response agencies respond to greater than 30,000 emergency calls with Guilford County EMS. First response personnel are generally certified to the EMT level. The exceptions are Piedmont Triad Ambulance and Rescue, a franchisee of Guilford County. This organization may respond with personnel who are credentialed at the EMT-Advanced level.
Guilford County is fortunate to have an extensive network of dedicated first responders who serve as the backbone of the EMS system.
In effort to continue to meet industry demands and benchmark to national standards, Guilford County sought accreditation in 2000. The Commission on Accreditation of Ambulance Services (CAAS) accredited Guilford County EMS in March of 2000. Since that time, the service has been through eight (8) re-accreditation processes successfully and is accredited through 2027. Guilford County EMS is one of 150 CAAS-accredited agencies in the United States.
The Commission on Accreditation of Ambulance Services was established to encourage and promote quality patient care in America’s medical transportation system. Based initially on the efforts of the American Ambulance Association, the independent Commission established a comprehensive series of standards for the ambulance service industry.
Accreditation signifies that our service has met the “gold standard” determined by the ambulance industry to be essential in a modern emergency medical services provider. These standards often exceed those established by state or local regulation.
More about the Commission on Accreditation of Ambulance Services (CAAS)
Contact Us
Guilford County EMS
1002 Meadowood St.
Greensboro, NC 27409
United States