Operations

Volusia County EMS is proud to be an Advanced Life Support (ALS) and Basic Life Support (BLS) system. Our ALS ambulances are staffed and equipped with at least one (1) member of the medical team certified as an Emergency Medical Technician-Paramedic and one (1) Emergency Medical Technicians-Basic (EMTs). The EMT-Paramedic is trained in Advanced Life Support (ALS), Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS), Pre-Hospital Trauma Life Support (PHTLS), and Basic Life Support (BLS). The EMT-Basic is trained in Basic Life Support (BLS) and assists the Paramedics with many critical tasks. In addition to our Advanced Life Support ambulances, Volusia Count EMS has also implemented Basic Life Support ambulances for the less critical patients we see. Basic Life Support Ambulances are staffed with one (1) Lead-Emergency Medical Technician-Basic and one (1) Emergency Medical Technician-Basic. Having these Basic Life Support ambulances in the system frees up our Advanced Life Support ambulances for the more critical patients. 

Volusia County Emergency Medical Services’ (VCEMS) mission is to be a community leader providing high quality, cost-efficient pre-hospital care and medical transportation with the highest standard of professionalism, the most advanced technology, and a deep sense of caring for the citizens and visitors of Volusia County. Volusia County EMS is the primary EMS service provider of a two-tiered EMS system which includes fire response with Advanced Life Support staff. Volusia County EMS responded to 73,800 calls for service and transported 49,046 patients to area hospitals. There are 199 full-time Emergency Medical Technicians and Paramedics, supplemented with over 60 part-time and intermittent staff. Volusia County EMS invests in emerging technology and programs to provide field providers the best opportunities to have positive outcomes with the patients we encounter.

Examples of equipment and programs that Volusia County EMS provides:

• Stryker™ Power Pro XT Cot with PowerLoad System
• Zoll™ X-Series Monitors that includes CO monitor on each ambulance
• Modems for cardiac monitors to transmit EKG’s from any location which alerts hospitals within minutes of scene arrival of STEMI patients
• Dedicated Interfacility Transport Program
• Dedicated BLS Transport Program
• In-House Cadaver Lab with Advanced Labaratory Procedures

• American Heart Association Training Center
  • BLS
  • ACLS
  • PEPP
  • PALS

• NAEMT Training Center
  • PHTLS
  • GEMS
  • AMLS
  • AHDR

In addition to a progressive training program, field providers will be provided with a highly competitive compensation package that includes:

• Florida State Retirement – Special Risk Classification
• Deferred Compensation (457) Plan that employees can contribute
• Computer Purchase Program
• Tuition Reimbursement Program

Example Work Schedule- 12 hour shifts 

New Employees who are cleared to practice should be prepared to work 12-hour night shifts and be assigned to different stations each shift to fulfill daily staffing needs. Shift assignments are selected and based on seniority here at VCEMS.

Employees should be prepared for mandatory work when there is the need to staff uncovered shifts. Mandatory work is based on overtime hours worked in a rolling calendar year. Those with the most overtime worked fall farther down the list; those with the least amount of hours will be at the top. Employees can be mandated once every sixteen (16) days. EMS Administration can change it to every seven (7) days during times of more significant staffing needs.