Boston Emergency Medical Services
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Boston Emergency Medical Services (Boston EMS) provides basic life support (BLS) and advanced life support (ALS) ambulance units throughout the neighborhoods in the city of Boston, Massachusetts, USA. Boston EMS is a public safety agency responding to 911 calls alone or with the Boston Police and/or Boston Fire Departments dependent upon the nature of an incident. The agency employs over 400 emergency medical technicians (EMT) and paramedics.
Boston EMS is a bureau of the City of Boston Public Health Commission. Boston EMS hires Massachusetts State certified EMTs by competitive examination and upon completion of the Boston EMS Recruit Academy, and then promotes paramedics from within the department after completing an intense internship. The department is managed by a uniformed command staff consisting of a Chief of Department, a Superintendent-in-Chief, three Superintendents, and twelve Deputy Superintendents.
There are sixteen ambulance stations located throughout the city. Field operations are overseen by a Shift Commander and assisted by 2 Lieutenants (Field Supervisors) operating in 2 Divisions. A third Lieutenant and field Captains are deployed as needed and during major citywide events. All department vehicles are equipped with Global Positioning (GPS) and Mobile Data Terminals (MDT). An EMT is assigned to the Massachusetts State Police Harbor Unit from mid spring though late fall.
Boston EMS maintains a fully staffed Special Operations Unit which includes a heavy duty rescue truck, two medium duty rescue trucks, a state-of-the-art MCI bus, support trailers, ATVs and a bike team for special events and major incidents. In addition, several other specialized units provide logistical/technical support for Boston EMS operations, including a modern Dispatch Operations Center (staffed by EMTs) located in Boston Police Headquarters, the Research, Training, and Quality Improvement Division (RTQI), a Community Initiatives Office and Administration & Finance office. The Materials Management Unit provides 24-hour equipment/supply services and the Fleet Services Unit maintain an inventory of approximately 120 department vehicles. There are also Facilities and Communications Engineering sections.
Boston EMS has a full-time two-person Community Assistance Team, with the call sign, Squad 80, that operates during the day and evening shifts. Squad 80 responds to call types with a low frequency of transport, freeing up ambulances. Squad 80 also seeks to connect individuals to city services, including shelters and recovery programs. Boston EMS also has a Mobile Integrated Healthcare unit, with the call sign Squad 90, that operates during the day and evening shifts. Squad 90 is staffed by a Boston EMS EMT, along with a Behavioral Health Clinician, who respond to calls citywide, including calls involving patients having a mental health crisis.
Boston EMS is a unionized department with EMTs and Paramedics represented by the Boston Police Patrolmen's Association, EMS Division; Support Services staff represented by the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME); Command Staff represented by SENA, and civilian office/clerical staff represented by SEIU.
Fleet
The Boston EMS ambulance fleet consists of Braun ambulances mounted on Ford F-450 Super Duty chassis.
Stations and Units
| Station | Assigned Units | Operating Hours | Location | Primary Response Area | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Station 1 | Ambulance 1 Paramedic 1 | 24h 24h | 109 Purchase St., Downtown | Downtown | |
| Station 2 | Ambulance 2 Paramedic 2 | 24h 24h | 364 Warren St., Roxbury | Roxbury | |
| Station 3 | Ambulance 3 | 24h | 1165 Blue Hill Ave., Dorchester | Mattapan | BPD District B-3 |
| Station P3 | Paramedic 3 | 06:30 - 22:30 | 2100 Dorchester Ave., Dorchester | Dorchester/Mattapan | Carney Hospital (AKA Station 23) |
| Station 4 | Ambulance 4 Ambulance 8 | 24h 06:00 - 02:00 | 25 Harvard St., Chinatown | South End Downtown | Tufts Medical Center A8 posts to Station 1 |
| Station 5 | Ambulance 5 | 24h | 201 Rivermoor St., West Roxbury | West Roxbury | Boston EMS Training Facility |
| Station 6 | Ambulance 6 | 24h | 101 West Broadway, South Boston | South Boston | BPD District C-6 |
| Station 7 | Ambulance 7 Ambulance 27 | 24h 08:00 - 00:00 | 200 Prescott St., East Boston | East Boston | Logan Airport |
| Station 10 | Ambulance 10 | 24h | 69 Theodore Glynn Way, South End | Roxbury/Dorchester | |
| Station 11 | Ambulance 11 | 24h | 50 Gibson St., Dorchester | Dorchester | Public Works Department |
| Station 12 | Ambulance 12 Ambulance 19Ambulance 20Ambulance 21 | 06:00 - 02:00 08:00 - 00:0024h24h | 249 River St., Mattapan | Roxbury/Dorchester Mission Hill/Roxbury | A12 posts to Franklin Park A20 posts to Roxbury CrossingA21 posts to Codman Square |
| Station 13 | Ambulance 13 | 24h | 3347 Washington St., Jamaica Plain | Jamaica Plain | BPD District E-13 |
| Station 14 | Ambulance 14 Ambulance 9 | 24h 07:00 - 23:00 | 33 McDonald Ave., Allston/Brighton | Brighton Allston | A9 posts to Kenmore Sq. |
| Station 15 | Ambulance 15 | 24h | 512 Main St., Charlestown | Charlestown | |
| Station 16 | Ambulance 16 Paramedic 16 | 06:00 - 02:00 08:00 - 00:00 | 330 Brookline Ave., Fenway/Kenmore | Back Bay | BIDMC Main Campus |
| Station 17 | Ambulance 17 Paramedic 5 | 24h 24h | 1153 Centre St., Jamaica Plain | Roslindale | Faulkner Hospital |
| Station 18 | Ambulance 18 | 24h | 58 Dana Ave., Hyde Park | Hyde Park | Public Works Department |
| Seaport Station | 34 Drydock Ave., South Boston | Seaport | New station under construction |
History
Boston EMS traces its history to the Boston City Hospital Ambulance Service, formed in 1892, and it remained a division of the City of Boston Health & Hospitals Department through 1996, at which time Boston EMS became a bureau of the newly created Boston Public Health Commission.
After 36 years of service with Boston EMS, Chief of Department Richard Serino retired in October 2009 to accept the position of Deputy Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) after nomination and confirmation by the US Senate.
On January 25, 2010, Mayor Thomas Menino appointed Superintendent-in-Chief James Hooley, a 32 year veteran of Boston EMS as the new Chief of Department. On December 7, 2020, John Gill, a 34 year veteran of Boston EMS was appointed Superintendent in-Chief of the department.
On April 15, 2013, Boston EMS was the primary medical response agency to the Boston Marathon bombing.
The Boston EMS Regimental Pipes and Drums Corps is one of the first dedicated EMS uniformed pipe and drum bands in the United States, and was formed in 1998.
Ranks
The Boston EMS rank structure is as follows:
| Title | Insignia | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Chief of Department | The Chief of Department is the head and is responsible for overseeing day-to-day operations. The Chief of Department wears a white shirt with a gold badge and five stars. | |
| Superintendent-in-Chief | The Superintendent-in-Chief is the second highest-ranking officer in the department. The Superintendent-In Chief wears a white shirt with a gold badge and four stars. | |
| Superintendent | Superintendents are typically in charge of Divisions, including Field Operations, Professional Standards, and Research, Training, and Quality Improvement (RTQI). Superintendents wear a white shirt with a gold badge and four stars. | |
| Deputy Superintendent | Deputy Superintendents serve in both operational and administrative leadership roles, including as shift commanders and as leaders of functional areas such as Recruiting, Community Initiatives and Services, Field Operations, Dispatch Operations, and Research, Training, and Quality Improvement (RTQI). Deputy Superintendents wear a white shirt with a gold badge and three stars. | |
| Captain | Captains serve leadership roles within Boston EMS and may be assigned to administrative and operational areas, including Research, Training, and Quality Improvement (RTQI), Professional Standards, Special Operations, and Field Operations, where they serve as Field Captains on day and evening shifts. Captains wear a white shirt with a gold badge and two bars. | |
| Lieutenant | Lieutenants serve as supervisors of field units or supervisors of dispatch operations. They have administrative and clinical responsibility and authority over EMTs and recruits; they have administrative responsibility and authority over Paramedics. They wear a white shirt with a gold badge and one bar. | |
| Paramedic | Paramedics are certified as emergency medical technicians at the advanced life support level, and have completed the rigorous Paramedic Internship. Paramedics wear a white shirt with a silver badge. | |
| EMT | EMTs are certified as emergency medical technicians at the basic life support level. EMT-Basics wear a beige shirt with a silver badge. | |
| Recruit | Recruits are members of Boston EMS who already hold EMT certification and are assigned to the Boston EMS Recruit Academy with the goal of becoming Boston EMS EMTs. During the approximately six-month academy, Recruits receive instruction in Boston EMS clinical standards, operational procedures, and local protocols, and participate in a structured physical training program designed to prepare them for the physical demands of emergency medical services operations. After completing the initial three-month academy phase, Recruits enter a supervised field internship, during which they are assigned to ambulances designated with A90-series call signs under the supervision of an experienced Field Training Officer (FTO). Recruits wear a beige shirt without a badge or certification patch. | |
| Cadet | Cadets are members who do not yet hold EMT certification. During the program, Cadets are compensated while completing the requirements for Massachusetts EMT certification. The program combines didactic instruction, hands-on practical training, and field exposure to prepare Cadets to deliver high-quality emergency medical care. Cadets also participate in a structured physical training program designed to prepare them for the physical demands of emergency medical services operations. As part of their field observation assignments, Cadets ride alongside experienced Mentors, gaining real-world exposure to emergency responses and assisting as appropriate. The program also helps prepare Cadets for potential future roles as Boston EMS Recruits. Cadets wear a beige shirt and beige trousers. |
External links
42°20′03″N 71°04′21″W/42.3343°N 71.0724°W/ 42.3343; -71.0724