About Us

Mission

To maintain, develop, coordinate, and assure a quality Emergency Medical System providing optimal patient care for the citizens and visitors of Yakima County.

Vision

To develop and implement training for EMS providers that promotes consistent high quality patient care.

Department Profile

The EMS Office is responsible for the planning, implementation and evaluation of quality training programs for certified EMS providers (e.g., emergency medical technicians and paramedics) throughout the county.

Yakima County’s emergency care providers continually train to ensure that our patients receive the most up-to-date and quality care possible. The EMS Office provides education and training and oversees certification of over 700 providers who work for fire departments, ambulance companies, police departments and Search and Rescue. The majority of EMS providers work as volunteers for the various agencies.

The funding source for the EMS Office is primarily from monies received through a countywide EMS levy. A grant, also received from the Department of Health, EMS & Trauma Prevention, is distributed by South Central Region EMS & Trauma Care Council. This grant is for training of all levels of EMS providers.

History

The Yakima County Department of Emergency Medical Services was established by the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC), and a Director was hired in September, 1988. It was determined by the BOCC that the creation of an EMS office was necessary, as a result of the recommendations by two advisory committees and the Washington State DSHS, EMS Section (now the Department of Health, Office of EMS and Trauma Prevention).

The office was originally located in the basement of the County Courthouse and a part-time secretary was hired in 1989. In December, 1996, the EMS Office moved to a location in the Yakima Health District building, and moved once again in February, 2005, to its present location in the Glenwood Square Mall. The Department now employs three full-time staff: EMS Manager, EMS Training Coordinator and Secretary and a number of part time staff..

Location

5110 Tieton Drive, Suite 370
Yakima, Washington 98908

(in the Glenwood Square Mall, upper level)

Driving Directions:

From I-82 head West on Hwy 12 toward Naches. Exit on the 40th Ave. exit. Travel southbound on 40th Avenue to Tieton Drive. Turn right or west on Tieton Drive. Glenwood Square is 4 blocks down on the left.

Office Hours

8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday (excluding holidays)

The staff prefers that appointments are made for all in office contact. This is due to the staff being in and out of the office at non set times for training and office duties.

Office Staff Directory

(509) 966-5175 MAIN
(509) 966-5176 FAX

EMS -Operations Board

The EMS Operations Board is an advisory board that reports to the Yakima County Commissioners. This Board's sole purpose is to advise the commissioners on DEMS operations (budgeting; funding sources, including EMS levy and grant writing; strategic planning, including DEMS facilities and capital equipment; and ensuring quality EMS educational programs and delivery method) to ensure quality provision of EMS to the people of Yakima County. The Board consists of a representation of mayors, fire chiefs, fire commissioners, an ambulance representative, hospital representative and the Yakima County Medical Program Director.

Yakima County EMS Statistics

Yakima County is 4296.1 geographical square miles and has a population of 220,673. There are approximately 700 EMS providers and 26 EMS agencies in Yakima County.