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Description

This policy brief distills the major findings and policy implications from Amplifying Florida EMS Voices: Results of the 2026 Annual EMS Agency Survey. The full report provides a comprehensive analysis of Florida EMS agency operations across workforce development, medical care, health and wellness, access to care, public engagement, data and quality improvement, telecommunications, disaster preparedness, pediatric care, and trauma. This condensed brief is intended for policymakers, state and regional planners, EMS leaders, and other decision-makers who need actionable findings without the full technical detail of the underlying report.

The 2026 Annual Florida EMS Agency Survey was conducted by the Florida Center for Emergency Medical Services at the University of South Florida on behalf of the Florida Department of Health Bureau of Emergency Medical Oversight. The survey was open from February 26 through May 5, 2026. Of 308 in-state ground EMS agencies eligible when the survey opened, 214 submitted usable responses, yielding a 69.5% response rate. The final analytic dataset included 230 agencies, including agencies licensed during the field period and a small number of out-of-state agencies operating in Florida.

The purpose of the survey is not simply to inventory agency capabilities. By examining agency size, organizational type, region, and rural status together, the report identifies the structural factors that help explain why particular programs and capabilities develop in some parts of Florida's EMS system but not others. These findings provide an evidence base for statewide resource planning and development of Florida's EMS State Plan.

Publication Date

9-1-2026

Policy Brief for Amplifying Florida EMS Voices: Results of the 2026 Annual Agency Survey

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