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About SCEMSA
The statewide voice for Emergency Medical Services in South CarolinaFrom rural counties to busy city streets, EMS professionals are there on the hardest days of people’s lives. The South Carolina EMS Association (SCEMSA) exists to stand behind those professionals by strengthening the system, growing the workforce, and ensuring EMS has a unified voice in our state. |
Improving EMS through Advocacy, Collaboration, and Education.
SCEMSA promotes and supports high-quality emergency medical services statewide by bringing EMS professionals, agencies, and partners together to advance care, policy, and practice.
A stronger EMS workforce and a stronger association.
Our vision is to grow the number of EMS professionals in South Carolina and to connect more of them to SCEMSA so that every community benefits from a supported, skilled, and sustainable EMS system.
How we serve EMS in South Carolina.
- Support and promote quality prehospital healthcare.
- Educate communities on the essential role of EMS.
- Leverage data, partnerships, and grants to move EMS forward.
From separate groups to one unified EMS voice
The South Carolina EMS Association was established in 2008 to bring EMS professionals together under a single umbrella. In 2016, SCEMSA made a deliberate shift toward workforce development, recognizing that the strength of EMS depends on the people who serve in it.
Over time, SCEMSA merged multiple EMS entities, including the private EMS association, the peer team, the educators association, and the air ambulance association, into one organization. Today, SCEMSA is one of the only EMS associations in the country that represents all facets of EMS with a single, unified voice.
What we have accomplished together
SCEMSA’s work is driven by EMS professionals across the state who serve on committees, share data, and help shape solutions. Together, we have turned that collaboration into meaningful progress for EMS in South Carolina.
Workforce and Unification
- Launched a Workforce Development Committee to bring EMS stakeholders together around shared priorities.
- Merged private EMS, peer support, educators, and air ambulance associations under SCEMSA’s umbrella.
- Became the only statewide EMS association that represents all sectors of EMS with one voice.
Data-Driven Funding and Innovation
- Partnered with the South Carolina Office of Healthcare Workforce on statewide EMS workforce and EMT training studies.
- Helped secure significant catalyst funding from the General Assembly to support EMS.
- Invested in South Carolina’s first coordinated statewide workforce development initiatives.
Legislative and Policy Wins
- Supported legislation that formally recognized EMS as an essential service in South Carolina.
- Helped achieve increased Medicaid reimbursement for EMS.
- Launched an EMS dashboard and established the EMS Association Foundation to support education and readiness.
Education and Leadership
- Assumed leadership of the annual state EMS symposium, aligning education with evolving system needs.
- Launched the South Carolina EMS Leadership I course and graduated the first cohorts in 2024.
- Continues to host specialized workshops and bring national speakers to South Carolina EMS professionals.
Where we are focused next
SCEMSA’s work is ongoing. We are committed to:
- Strengthening the EMS workforce pipeline through education, recruitment, and support.
- Advocating for sustainable funding and policies that recognize EMS as essential to public safety.
- Expanding leadership development and wellness initiatives for EMS professionals.
- Sharing data and stories that highlight EMS impact in every South Carolina community.
Be part of the SCEMSA story
Whether you serve on an ambulance, manage an agency, support EMS education, or partner with EMS in another way, there is a place for you in SCEMSA. Together, we can strengthen emergency medical services for every community in South Carolina.
CONNECT WITH US | SC EMS Association |