Emergency Department/Trauma Archives

About Emergency Department/Trauma

California’s emergency departments (EDs) provide critical health services to those experiencing trauma, injury, or acute medical conditions. EDs offer comprehensive care, do not require previous authorization, and are open 24/7 year-round. EDs are facing unprecedented patient volume, with a 42% increase in the past seven years. By improving access to care for primary and specialty services, emergency visits can be reduced. More focused state and federal policies will be required to reduce Californians’ health care risks and ensure equitable access to appropriate care levels before people need emergency care.

04 Feb 2026

5 Things To Know: EMSA Releases Updated AB 40 Regulations; Comments Due March 4

The Emergency Medical Services Authority (EMSA) has released updated Assembly Bill (AB) 40 regulations for final rulemaking related to ambulance patient offload times, with comments due on March 4.  Read more in this article from the California Hospital Association.

07 Jan 2026

5 Things To Know: Commission Working to Increase Implementation of APOT Protocols

At its December meeting, the Commission on Emergency Medical Services reviewed ongoing implementation challenges related to Assembly Bill (AB) 40’s ambulance patient offload time (APOT) requirements, under which hospitals must submit APOT reduction protocols annually.

17 Dec 2025

5 Things To Know: EMS to Update Base Hospital Nurse Reports on Jan. 6

As part of the County of San Diego Emergency Medical Services’ (EMS) work to review the area’s base station hospital system model and trauma center catchment area designations,

17 Sep 2025

5 Things To Know: Hospitals Should Register for APOT Audit Tool

Earlier this year, the Emergency Medical Services Authority developed, per Assembly Bill 40 (2023), an “APOT Audit Tool” that aims to improve emergency medical services data and shorten ambulance patient offload times (APOTs).

20 Aug 2025

5 Things To Know: Five San Diego County EMS Draft Policies Open for Public Comment

The San Diego County Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Office seeks public comment on five EMS draft policies: special project proposals, EMS continuing education, local EMS agency data use and storage, the emergency medical dispatch enhanced care access plan, and the emergency medical dispatch enhanced care access template. The comment period closes on Aug. 21.

16 Jul 2025

5 Things To Know: EMSA Seeks Input on Revised Chapter 6 Specialty Care Regulations

On July 3, the California Emergency Medical Services Authority (EMSA) released a revised Chapter 6 regulation proposal, which outlines critical updates to specialty care programs — including trauma, ST-elevation myocardial infarction, stroke, and Emergency Medical Services for Children — and opens a second round of public comment. The California Hospital Association’s (CHA’s) Emergency Medical Services and Trauma...

21 May 2025

5 Things To Know: County of San Diego Seeks Information on Online Medical Direction for EMS Providers

Responses to the County of San Diego Emergency Medical Services Office’s request for information on implementation of a new online medical direction system for the region’s emergency medical services (EMS) providers are due by June 2.

19 Mar 2025

5 Things To Know: San Diego County EMS Seeks Input on Key Policies

The San Diego County Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Office is in the process of revising several policies that support the organized EMS delivery system, and has released updated drafts for additional public comment through April 14. These drafts are based on initial community feedback from the comment period that ended Dec. 31, 2024. Changes include...

05 Feb 2025

5 Things To Know: Emergency Services Office Seeks Feedback on Ambulance Diversion

At the end of the Jan. 31 Ambulance Diversion Townhall, which included nearly 80 representatives from San Diego County, hospitals, fire districts, and emergency medical services (EMS) providers, San Diego County EMS shared an online form for attendees, stakeholders, and the community to submit additional feedback on ambulance diversion practices and policies. The form is […]

15 Jan 2025

5 Things To Know: Emergency Services Office Welcomes Feedback on Industry Policies, Practices

The San Diego County EMS Office has posted several updates related to emergency medical service (EMS) programs and operations and seeks public comment on each of them. Topics include continuing education and scopes of practice for paramedics, emergency medical technicians, and emergency medical dispatch, as well as policies and a template for emergency medical dispatch […]

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