Emergency Medical Services Alliance

Marion County’s Emergency Medical Services Alliance, Inc. (EMSA) is a non-profit governmental Emergency Medical Services (EMS) agency created by a partnership between The Marion County, Florida Board of County Commissioners, The City of Ocala, Ocala Regional Medical Center/West Marion Community Hospital and Munroe Regional Medical Center. EMSA is responsible for providing leadership, field supervision and medical direction for 911 based emergency medical services responses, patient contacts, and ambulance transportation within the 1653 square-mile service area in North Central Florida.

About EMSA
Emergency Medical Services Alliance was formed on October 1, 2003. It is an alliance of Marion County, Governed by a Board of Directors. The Board consists of the County Administrator, Ocala City Manager, The CEO of Ocala Regional Medical Center, CEO of Monroe Regional Medical Center, and the President of Central Florida Community College. Prior to the formation of the alliance, the Emergency Medical Services for Marion County were provided by Munroe Regional Hospital.

Ocala Fire-Rescue and Marion County Fire-Rescue respond along with EMSA on certain types of calls, providing first-response Advanced Life Support on critical patients and extrication on automobile accidents. Marion County Fire-Rescue also has 4 transport vehicles to handle calls in the rural areas, including three in the Ocala National Forest. EMSA is dispatched by their own communicators operating out of the Marion County Sheriff's Office PSAP (Public Safety Answering Point). 911 calls are answered by Marion County Sheriff's Office, and then transferred to an EMSA calltaker who then enters the call into the Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) System. Another dispatcher notifies the closest ambulance via radio while the calltaker gives pre-arrival medical instructions to the caller if needed.

Facts about EMSA
The EMSA population served is 300,000+ with a response area of 1,653 square miles.

Statistics
EMSA Statistics (as of 9/21/2006):
 * 67 Paramedics
 * 66 EMTs
 * 36 Support Staff
 * 27 Administrative Staff

Vehicles
EMSA has several vehicles that dynamically post throughout the county:
 * 14 Ambulances * Advanced Life Support Equipped
 * 28 Support Vehicles * Supervisor/Admin
 * 1 John Deere Gator ATV (All-terrain vehicle) * Medically Equipped
 * 2 Mini Ambulance Golf Carts * Medically Equipped
 * 6 Mountain Bikes * Medically Equipped
 * 1 Motorcycle * Medically Equipped

EMSA Ambulances travel an average of 250 miles per shift.