Improving emergency medical services for all residents

California’s emergency medical services (EMS) system faces a growing hiring and retention crisis that threatens its ability to meet the needs of the communities it serves. This project seeks to better understand workplace conditions for EMS providers in California and identify policy and programmatic solutions to strengthen the EMS workforce and improve patient care. 

At the same time, EMS agencies across California face ongoing challenges in recruiting and retaining a workforce that reflects the communities they serve. We are partnering with Alameda County Emergency Medical Services to examine (i) the systemic and workplace factors that shape provider experiences, (ii) barriers to entering and remaining in the EMS field, and (iii) actionable solutions to strengthen recruitment pipelines, improve provider retention, and enhance overall workforce capacity.

This project consists of two main workstreams. First, we will analyze Alameda County EMS data to explore links between provider characteristics, workplace factors, and treatment interventions. Second, we will field a statewide survey of EMS personnel to better understand workplace conditions, recruitment and retention challenges, and opportunities for improvement. Findings from both workstreams will inform policy, training, and programmatic recommendations aimed at sustaining a strong and effective EMS workforce. The project runs through September 2026.