What Makes Rural EMS in the US a Health Equity Concern?

Emergency medical services (EMS) play critical roles in responding as soon as possible to health care needs of individuals across the United States, particularly in areas where access to a broad spectrum of critical health services is limited. 1 In many rural regions of the United States, EMS is often the first and most immediate point of contact for patients with urgent health needs, as it encompasses a network of transporters, first responders, emergency medical technicians, paramedics, and medical directors.However, despite their essential functions, rural EMS systems face challenges to an extent that health equity in many rural communities is severely compromised.